In our 38-year history, 2020 marked the first year that we did not assemble in fellowship and solidarity to support our winning poets as they shared their verse at the podium. In lieu of our in-person Festival and Reading, originally scheduled for Saturday, May 2, the 38th annual Parkmont Poetry Festival celebrated our 40 winners by compiling videos of each poet reading their winning verse. This was an extraordinary feat in the midst of a pandemic where teachers, students, Festival staff, and judges were all distanced. Through the combination of technology and youthful spirit, our 2020 Parkmont Poetry Festival Video allows us to celebrate the 40 winners virtually. Thanks to the winning students’ willingness and inventiveness, the video captures not only the poems but also the personalities, charisma, heads and hearts of the poets.
We hope you’ll give them the virtual viewing that they deserve and reach out to any winners you know to tell them what you thought. You can download a copy of the 2020 Booklet of poems here.
The 2020 Festival Video replaces our introductory documentary normally found here. You can view that film by videographer Elizabeth Dausch, and learn the origins of our Festival, by clicking here.
To make a tax-deductible donation to the Parkmont Poetry Festival, click here. Thank you!
