Press Release
Poetry Downtown Honors the Legacy of Edgar Allan Poe
This year, Poetry Downtown proudly celebrates the literary genius of Edgar Allan Poe with a vibrant four-city festival. Spanning Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, each city will offer a unique blend of poetry, performances, and community engagement, all in tribute to Poe’s enduring influence on American literature.
Poetry Cycle Boston: Following in the Footsteps of Edgar Allan Poe
In Boston, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, poets and literature enthusiasts are invited to embark on a captivating journey through the life and legacy of Edgar Allan Poe—by bicycle. This highly anticipated event has become a hallmark of the Poetry Downtown festival, drawing participants eager to explore history on a bicycle. Kicking off the festival, the Poetry Cycle Boston will take place on September 27th, beginning at 8 am at the historic Boston Public Library, the oldest public library in the United States. Participants will pedal their way through key sites tied to Poe’s life and work in Boston.
Event Highlights
The 5-mile Poetry Cycle will feature stops at iconic landmarks associated with Edgar Allan Poe, including:
- Poe Returning to Boston Statue: An Edgar Allan Poe statue near Poe’s birthplace.
- Boston Common: The oldest public park in the USA.
- Boston Athenaeum: One of the oldest independent libraries in the country.
- Central Burying Ground and Granary Burying Ground: Historic cemeteries with connections to Boston’s literary history.
- Old Corner Bookstore: The oldest commercial building in Downtown Boston.
- 83-85 Summer Street: Site where the Great Boston Fire of 1872 started.
- Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum: A site of significant historical interest.
- Fort Independence: Where Poe was stationed at the age of 18.
Lunch at Ashburton Café
Poetry Downtown is not just a literary experience, but also a culinary journey. For lunch, participants will enjoy an authentic Boston Clam Chowder at Ashburton Café, located in the basement of the John W. McCormack Building. This hidden gem offers a variety of cafeteria-style dishes, all made by hand. The café is known for its hearty meals and a well-stocked salad bar that caters to vegetarians and dieters alike.
Boston Event Schedule on September 27th
8:00 am – 12:00 pm – Poetry Cycle Boston: A 5-mile literary bicycle tour following Edgar Allan Poe’s life from his birthplace to Fort Independence.
1:00 pm – 1:15 pm – Opening Ceremony: Erik van Loon will officially open the Boston festivities, welcoming poets and guests, and introducing Geraldine Cannon Becker.
1:15 pm – 2:00 pm – Lecture: Literacy Through Poetry: In the Commonwealth Room of the Boston Public Library, Professor Becker will discuss the crucial role poetry can play in combating illiteracy.
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Radio Play: A Voyage To The Moon: Join us at the Boston Public Library for a solo journey with Edgar Allan Poe to the Moon, as he escapes civilization and ventures to another world.
8:00 pm – 10:00 pm – Poetry Downtown Reading Boston: Thirteen selected poets will share their work in an evening of readings.
10:00 pm – 11:00 pm – PATCH Boston: At PATCH (Poetry And Tales Cocktail Hour), poets and the audience can mingle, share stories, and dance. Each night will also feature the Ultimate Typewriter Showdown, where participants compete in speed, accuracy, and skill to become the typewriter champion.
All events are free to attend.
Festival Overview: Boston – New York – Philadelphia – Baltimore
The 4th annual Poetry Downtown Festival promises an extraordinary lineup of events across four cities, featuring 12 unique dishes, four poetry readings, four lectures, three poetry cycles, three Ultimate Typewriter Showdowns, one talk show, and one radio play. Poets will travel on the Poetry Train, connecting 20 cities and towns across eight states from Boston to Baltimore. This unique and affordable journey offers poets unparalleled opportunities to network, collaborate, and celebrate the art of poetry.
More info:
4th Poetry Downtown Festival
Erik van Loon
+316 E VAN LOON / +316 3 826 5666
www.poetrydowntown.com
Poetrydowntownfestival@gmail.com
