Press release : 5th Poetry Downtown Festival honoring John Trudell
In 2025, the 5th Poetry Downtown Festival will celebrate the legacy of John Trudell in the following four big cities and the Poetry Train: Omaha on September 23, Denver on September 24, San Francisco on September 27 and Santa Clara on September 28. Poetry Downtown, a free festival founded in 2021 by Dutch artist Erik van Loon as a birthday present for his 50th birthday to America, aims fight illiterarcy by bringing poets from around the world together.
10 Years John Trudell
Each year, Poetry Downtown honors a distinguished poet for their lifetime achievement. In 2021, the festival celebrated Kenneth Patchen with “Get Ready To Die”; in 2022, Charles Bukowski with “Some People Never Go Crazy”; in 2023, Sylvia Plath with “I Never Could Talk To You” and in 2024, Edgar Allan Poe with “The Raven.” This year, the festival pays tribute to John Trudell (February 15, 1946 – December 8, 2015) on the 10th anniversary of his death with the theme “Look At Us.” Poets are invited to submit their work by September 1st.
Four Cities in Six Days
Day 1: Omaha, September 23
– 8:00-11:00 am: Santee Isáŋyathi
– 11:00-12:00 am Lecture: American Indian Poetry
– 2:00-4:00 pm Workshop: Using All Elements
– 8:00-10:00 pm Poetry Downtown Omaha + Typewriter Showdown
– 11:25 pm – 7:56 am Poetry Train Omaha-Denver
Day 2: Denver, September 24
– 9:00-10:00 am Break Poetry Fast
– 11:00-12:00 am Lecture: Write to Exist
– 2:00-4:00 pm Workshop: Writing Colours
– 8:00-10:00 pm Poetry Downtown Denver +Typewriter Showdown
– 8:46 am -5:45 pm Poetry Train Denver – San Francisco
Day 5: San Francisco, September 27
– 8:00-10:00 am Poetry At Alcatraz
– 11:00-12:00 am Lecture: Poetry and Protest
– 2:00-4:00 pm Workshop: Time Travelling
– 8:00-10:00 pm Poetry Downtown San Francisco +Typewriter Showdown
– 10:25 pm-11:43 pm Poetry Train San Francisco – Santa Clara
Day 6: Santa Clara, September 28
– 8:00-10:00 am Poetry Cycle
– 11:00-12:00 am Lecture: John Trudell
– 2:00-4:00 pm Workshop: Zine Making
– 8:00-10:00 pm Poetry Downtown Santa Clara +Typewriter Showdown
The Poetry Train
The 4th Poetry Train connects poets in 40 cities and towns across five states from Omaha to Santa Clara, providing an affordable and unique opportunity for poets to network and collaborate during the journey.
Anthology and Zine
This year, an Anthology featuring 52 selected poets will be published, alongside a hand-printed and stapled Zine created on the Poetry Train. The Zine will include art, writings, and photos from the journey and will be presented in Santa Clara, with a limited print run of 100 copies.
Program and Menu
The festival highlights its diverse events and culinary experiences. The 12-page program, available at www.poetrydowntown.com/program, features nine local menus, four poetry readings, three lectures, two museum visits, and one concert.
Fighting Illiteracy
By uniting amateur and professional poets annually, Poetry Downtown promotes literacy within communities. Erik chose poetry above prose as a simple Haiku can already enhance listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills, making it a powerful tool for education and creativity.
American Dream
Erik van Loon’s dream is to lease a dedicated Poetry Train by 2025, complete with restaurant, sleeper, disco, bar, and library cars. In 2025 he hopes to welcome 60 poets on the Poetry Train, continuing to grow this unique festival.
Crowdfunding
Support Erik’s American Dream and help bring America together through poetry. Visit https://poetrydowntown.com/crowdfunding for more information on how to become a sponsor.
More info:
Poetry Downtown Festival
Erik van Loon
+316 E VAN LOON / +316 3 826 5666
www.poetrydowntown.com
Poetrydowntownfestival@gmail.com
