EVENTS CALENDAR
Check out these events for writers and storytellers in Elgin and beyond!
The Elgin Poet Laureate Project is committed to serving the needs of our community. Events will be subject to the Poet Laureate’s availability. Any organization or individual may request participation by the Poet Laureate.
Saturday June 1
Pride Parade & Festival: 11am – 5pm
Poetry Performance: 2:10pm
Downtown Elgin. Check out the parade & festival map below!
Poet Laureate Performance
@ Elgin Pride Festival!
Elgin Poet Laureate, Aron Ryan, will be performing a poem at the Elgin Pride Festival following Elgin’s 2nd pride parade! This poem will be performed at 2:10 PM in Festival Park.
Learn More about Elgin Pride Festival!
First Mondays
6:30 – 8:00 pm
Gail Borden Public Library
& on ZOOM
Main Library: Grove Room
270 N Grove Ave, Elgin, IL, 60120
Poetry Writers Workshop
Budding & Seasoned Poets Welcome!
Share your love of poetry! Poets share their work in a supportive environment facilitated by Elgin Poet Laureate Emeritus Gareth Mann.
PAST POET LAUREATE EVENTS
Thursday April 11
6:30 – 7:30 pm
Gail Borden Public Library
Main Library: Elgin Room
270 N Grove Ave, Elgin, IL, 60120
Poetry Alive
Poet Laureate Emeritus Gareth Mann, Poet Laureate Aron Ryan, and other local poets celebrated National Poetry Month, reading their original work.
Tuesday March 19
4:00 – 5:30 pm
Gail Borden Public Library
Main Library: Lobby
270 N Grove Ave, Elgin, IL, 60120
Gail Borden Library’s 150th Birthday Celebration
We celebrated the Library’s 150th birthday with cupcakes, giveaways, performances, and more! Performers included Elgin Poet Laureate Aron Ryan, the Elgin Master Chorale, the Fox Valley Harmonizers Barbershop Quartet, along with several surprises to commemorate the day the library first opened its doors to the community on March 19, 1974.
Read Aron’s poem Infinities (pdf)
March 14, 2024
7:30 – 9:00 pm
Elgin Community College
Building B: Alumni Room
1700 Spartan Dr, Elgin, IL 60123
Student Showcase @ Elgin Community College
This event highlighted upcoming selections from Spire (ECC’s literary and arts magazine) and the Palmer Arts Contest. Speech students and creative writing students brought these literary pieces to life through compelling performances, offering a dynamic preview of the talent that will soon be featured in Spire. Hosted by Elgin Community College’s Writers Center. Aron performed his poem Shapeshifter as the final poem of the celebration. Shapeshifter won first place for poetry in ECC’s Palmer Arts contest, soon to be published in Spire.
Sunday March 3
1:00 – 2:00 pm
Gail Borden Public Library
Main Library: River Room
270 N Grove Ave, Elgin, IL, 60120
Welcome Elgin’s Newest Poet Laureate
Aron Ryan!
Elgin Poet Laureate, Aron Ryan, led a special reception featuring fine poetry and light refreshments in the library’s lovely River Room.
Read Aron’s poem Elgin City of Light (pdf)
February 24, 2024
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Elgin History Museum
360 Park St, Elgin, IL 60120
Timekeepers @ EHM’s We Love Volunteers
Aron Ryan read his poem Timekeepers, celebrating Elgin History Museum’s volunteers at the museum’s annual volunteer appreciation event We Love Volunteers.