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Write Now Literary Festival (Newport News)
May 30 @ 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
A dynamic, all-day literary experience designed to celebrate storytelling, spoken word, and creative expression at every level.
The Write Now Literary Festival is a full-day celebration of literature, performance, and community featuring workshops, interactive experiences, an open mic, and a high-energy poetry slam.
Throughout the day, attendees can participate in hands-on writing and performance workshops designed to build creative skills and explore different forms of expression. Midday includes a break for food and local vendors, followed by The “LIT”erary Game Show, a fun quiz-style competition where participants test their knowledge of literature in teams for prizes.
The afternoon continues with the Write Now Fest Open Mic, welcoming poets, singers, and performers of all styles to share their voice in a supportive space.
The festival culminates in the evening with the Michelle Gilliam Memorial Poetry Slam, a three-round competitive slam featuring 15 poets, live scoring by judges, a DJ, and featured performances by nationally ranked poetry teams and comedians. The slam includes structured elimination rounds, strict timing rules, and high-stakes final placements leading to a grand prize for first place.
In addition to programming, attendees can enjoy food vendors, community engagement, and a vibrant creative atmosphere throughout the day.
Event Highlights:
- 6 creative workshops
- Literary Game Show competition
- Open mic performance showcase
- Featured comedy & slam poetry performances
- Michelle Gilliam Memorial Poetry Slam (main event)
- Food vendors & Vendors
Disclaimer: The Michelle Gilliam Memorial Poetry Slam may include strong language and mature themes. Performances are raw, uncensored and may explore sensitive or intense subject matters. This content is recommended for those 16+ and parental discretion is advised.