Now in its sixth year, the Great Lakes Poetry Festival has matured from a local experiment into a recognized literary staple of the Midwest. Marty Achatz, the festival’s architect at the Peter White Public Library, notes that while the event has weathered its share of growing pains, it has successfully established Marquette as a premier hub for regional voices. The 2026 lineup reflects this growth, drawing interest from poets across Michigan who now regard the festival as a vital cultural landmark for the Upper Peninsula.
This year’s programming leans heavily into the relationship between the written word and the natural world, particularly with keynote poet Dr. Patricia Killelea scheduled to read on Earth Day. For Killelea, who resides in the rural western U.P., the Northwoods landscape is more than just a backdrop; it is a primary influence on the rhythm and focus of her work. Her latest collection, Solace, serves as a love letter to the land, blending personal affection with a deep awareness of local environmental challenges like sustainable forestry and water health.
Beyond traditional readings, the festival continues to push the boundaries of how poetry is consumed. A highlight of the 2026 event is the premiere of a collaborative stop-motion animation titled The Ballad of Little Bones. This experimental project marks a shift for Killelea into "videopoetry," combining surreal visual art with linguistic depth. It is a prime example of how the festival seeks to engage "poetry skeptics" by offering diverse, multi-sensory experiences that move beyond the printed page.
Kurt Hauswirth spoke with Achatz and Killelea about the poetry festival:
The organizers emphasize that the festival is designed to be a gateway for those who haven't yet found a poet they enjoy. By featuring a wide variety of perspectives (from Suzanne Sunshower’s accounts of living off-grid in a shack to the Lake Superior-inspired verses of Dennis Hinrichsen), the event aims to prove that poetry is a practical tool for processing life’s most profound shifts. Achatz remains committed to the idea that there is a poet for everyone within this year’s eclectic roster.
All major readings and workshops are offered for free to the public, with live-streaming options available via the library’s YouTube channel. The Great Lakes Poetry Festival continues until Saturday, April 25th, with Killelea's keynote reading on Wednesday, April 22nd, at 6:30pm.
Visit the Peter White Public Library Event Calendar for more information about the 2026 Great Lakes Poetry Festival, and visit Dr. Killelea's NMU page for more information on her work.
