Exciting Literary Festival Set to Kick Off in Asheville
Asheville is buzzing with anticipation as it gears up for its very first literary festival, hosted by Punch Bucket Lit. Mark your calendars for Friday and Saturday, September 20-21, because this is an event you won’t want to miss! Taking place at the stunning Wortham Center for Performing Arts and the Renaissance Asheville Downtown Hotel, the festival promises to bring together a community of writers, readers, and literary enthusiasts.
A Local Initiative Blossoming into a Grand Festival
Punch Bucket Lit started out as a charming monthly literary reading series at the Cellarest Beer Project back in 2022. Fast forward to February 2023, and it became a nonprofit organization with a powerful mission: to support local writers while also providing a stage for regional and national authors eager to connect with the Asheville community. “As the series grew, we felt it was time to create a larger platform for the exchange of ideas and the showcasing of local and national literary talent,” says outreach director Alex McWalters.
McWalters and the Punch Bucket team recognized that Asheville was ready for something special. “It seemed to us that Asheville was ready and eager for a literary festival,” he shared, and thus, the idea was born!
What to Expect
Get ready for an incredible lineup of over 100 writers, including the renowned Lauren Groff, a New York Times bestselling author and a three-time National Book Award nominee. With novels like The Monsters of Templeton, Arcadia, and Fates and Furies under her belt, Groff is sure to bring in the crowds.
The festival will not just feature readings but will also provide a rich assortment of workshops and panel discussions covering various genres including memoir, fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Attendees can explore the all-day book fair, highlighting more than 20 literary magazines and presses, such as The Sun, Ecotone, and The Rumpus.
Kicking Off with a Bang
The festivities will kick off with a grand opening at 7 p.m. on Friday, September 20, featuring five-minute prose and poetry performances from a diverse group of authors like Leah Hampton, Halle Hill, Bryn Chancellor, and Ye Chun. There will also be talented poets, including Jessica Jacobs and Meg Day, adding their voices to the vibrant opening.
Saturday promises an exciting agenda filled with more readings, panels, and workshops, running from 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. After a full day of literary goodness, the festival’s evening event will see poets Diamond Forde and Jóse Olivarez converse with Eric Tran, leading into the festival headliner conversation with Lauren Groff and memoirist Tessa Fontaine.
A Shared Experience
McWalters hopes each attendee walks away with a personal connection to at least one piece of work they experience at the festival. “Literature has the power to allow us to see ourselves and to see others in new and deeper ways,” he expresses. The festival aims to create a sense of community where individuals can share their love for literature.
Additional Highlights in Asheville
Aside from the literary festival, Asheville is overflowing with cultural events this September. You’ll find the Asheville Ballet’s Fall Into Dance performance, the Festival of Neighborhoods at Martin Luther King Jr. Park, and a talk by author Jennifer McGaha discussing her memoir titled Bushwhacking. Plus, for fans of skating and Taylor Swift alike, there’s the Swiftie Skate Night at Carrier Park!
Join in the Fun
Whether you’re an aspiring writer, a voracious reader, or just someone who enjoys lively conversations, the Punch Bucket Literary Festival is set to be an engaging experience. Don’t miss the chance to connect, learn, and celebrate the power of words with your fellow Asheville community members.
So, what are you waiting for? Grab your friends and family, and head to the festival for a weekend filled with literary magic!
