Free and open to everyone, the event will bring together an outstanding lineup of poets and authors for an afternoon of spoken word, storytelling, live music and art in a spectacular lakeside setting. Photo courtesy of California State Parks

TAHOE CITY, CA (MPG) — Poetry, music and art come together on the shores of Lake Tahoe on Saturday, Aug. 22, from 3 to 5 p.m. for Poetry in Parks presented by California State Parks at William B. Layton State Park in Tahoe City.

Free and open to everyone, the event will bring together an outstanding lineup of poets and authors for an afternoon of spoken word, storytelling, live music and art in a spectacular lakeside setting. The event will be hosted by Scott Green, recipient of the 2026 California State Parks Director’s Trailblazer Award for developing the Poetry in Parks program.

Poetry in Parks is part of a statewide spoken-word event series that began in 2015 as a successful pilot program for Arts in California Parks, bringing poetry, storytelling and community together in California's state parks.

Featured poets and authors include Kim Shuck, San Francisco Poet Laureate emerita, Jen Cheng, West Hollywood Poet Laureate, Jesse James Ziegler, Reno Poet Laureate emeritus, Scott Green, José Rios. As well as John Merryfield, Bridey Thelen-Heidel, Kim Culbertson, Priya Hutner, J.Macon King and George Yatchisin. 

The afternoon will also feature live music from Winter Grain and a live painting by artist Sara Smith, adding visual and musical arts to the literary celebration.

Whether attendees are longtime poetry lovers, writers themselves or simply looking for an afternoon immersed in the arts, Poetry in Parks offers a unique opportunity to experience literature and live performance surrounded by the natural beauty of Lake Tahoe.

The Tahoe City event is sponsored by Sierra State Parks Foundation, Tahoe Literary Festival, Gatekeeper's Museum and Tahoe City Downtown Association.

Additional information about the featured poets and authors is available at TahoeLitFest.com.