Art Park Literary & Poetry Festival

The City of Ocala, in partnership with the Marion County Public Library System, presents the first annual Art Park Literary & Poetry Festival, a brand-new addition to the Art Park Series! This free, family-friendly event invites the community to celebrate the power of language through literature, poetry, and the spoken word. Attendees can enjoy live Open Mic poetry recitals, local and regional author showcases, food trucks, literary community vendors, non-profits, and art-making experiences for all ages. The first edition of the “My Place, My Story: Art Park Literary and Poetry Festival” book will be available for free at the event, featuring selected poems from participating poets. This free event will host live musical performances by Def-i and Küf Knotz & Christine Elise, as well as community performances by Friends of the Public Library and the Ocala Civic Theatre. The open-mic poetry recitations will take place from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., featuring original works by student poets and professional spoken word artists. In the event of inclement weather, the Art Park Literary & Poetry Festival will be rescheduled to Saturday, April 18, 2026. Participants and attendees will be notified of any weather-related changes by email. Updates will also be posted on the City of Ocala Cultural Arts Instagram page @OcalaCulturalArts [https://www.ocalafl.gov/?splash=https%3a%2f%2fwww.instagram.com%2fOcalaCulturalArts%2f&____isexternal=true]. Please check for updates leading up to the event. For more information visit: www.ocalafl.gov/poetryfest.