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APRIL 2026 | GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA​

AMERICA 250 - 4th Annual BARD & Broadside: North Central Florida Poetry Festival

Celebrating 250 years of American Independence through Poetry

North Central Florida's Premier Poetry Festival is the only festival in North Central Florida dedicated to the art of poetry in all its many diverse forms. Held in the beautiful city of Gainesville, Florida. ​​​

Featured Poet

Sidney Wade, PhD is the author of 8 volumes of poetry, the latest of which is "Deep Gossip: New and Selected Poems."  She is Professor Emerita at the University of Florida, where she taught poetry writing and translation for 21 years. She served on the board and as president of the  Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP) for 7 years. She taught at the Sewanee Summer Writers Conference for 10 years. Sidney Wade lives in Gainesville,  Florida and Rangeley, Maine.  

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Schedule of Events

  • WORD SLAY: "Standing On Words"
    WORD SLAY: "Standing On Words"
    Sat, Apr 11
    Alachua County Library Headquarters
    Apr 11, 2026, 1:00 PM
    Alachua County Library Headquarters, 401 E University Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601, USA
    Youth Poetry and Monologue Competition
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  • POETRY READING with Aliesa Zoecklein
    POETRY READING with Aliesa Zoecklein
    Sun, Apr 12
    Millhopper Branch Library
    Apr 12, 2026, 2:00 PM
    Millhopper Branch Library , 3145 NW 43rd St, Gainesville, FL 32606, USA
    Featuring: Aliesa Zoecklein (WAG)
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  • Proclamation: National Poetry Month
    Proclamation: National Poetry Month
    Tue, Apr 14
    Alachua Board of County Commissioners
    Apr 14, 2026, 11:30 AM
    Alachua Board of County Commissioners, 12 SE 1st St, Gainesville, FL 32601, USA
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  • FREE FRIDAYS CONCERT, ft. Wester Joseph and House Party
    FREE FRIDAYS CONCERT, ft. Wester Joseph and House Party
    Apr 17, 2026, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
    Bo Diddley Plaza, 111 E University Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601, USA
    Poetry & Music | Featuring: Wester Joseph and House Party
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  • SWAMP-BERRY JAM
    SWAMP-BERRY JAM
    Sat, Apr 18
    VECINOS
    Apr 18, 2026, 6:00 PM
    VECINOS, 208 W University Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601, USA
    Poetry Slam
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  • WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS
    WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS
    Sun, Apr 19
    The Lynx Books
    Apr 19, 2026, 5:00 PM
    The Lynx Books, 601 S Main St, Gainesville, FL 32601, USA
    Community Panel Discussion
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  • WE THE POETS
    WE THE POETS
    Wed, Apr 22
    The Lynx Books
    Apr 22, 2026, 6:00 PM
    The Lynx Books, 601 S Main St, Gainesville, FL 32601, USA
    Poetry Reading
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  • POETRY at THE PLANETARIUM
    POETRY at THE PLANETARIUM
    Sat, Apr 25
    Kika Silva Pla Planetarium
    Apr 25, 2026, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
    Kika Silva Pla Planetarium , 3000 NW 83 St, Gainesville, FL 32606, USA
    ASTRONOMICAL WORDS | A Cosmic Exploration of Creative Expression Through Poetry
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  • SIDNEY WADE: Featured Poet
    SIDNEY WADE: Featured Poet
    Sun, Apr 26
    Alachua County Library Headquarters
    Apr 26, 2026, 1:00 PM
    Alachua County Library Headquarters, 401 E University Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601, USA
    Poetry & Creative Writing Workshop
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  • SIDNEY WADE: Featured Poet
    SIDNEY WADE: Featured Poet
    Sun, Apr 26
    Alachua County Library Headquarters
    Apr 26, 2026, 3:00 PM
    Alachua County Library Headquarters, 401 E University Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601, USA
    Poetry Reading & Book Signing
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  • MUSEUM NIGHTS
    MUSEUM NIGHTS
    Thu, Apr 09
    UF Harn Museum of Art Auditorium
    Apr 09, 2026, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
    UF Harn Museum of Art Auditorium , Park and Ride Number 1, 3259 Hull Rd, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA
    Open Mic at the Harn Museum of Art Join our local poetry community and guests for an Open Mic Night! Free & open to the public. All poets are welcome. Some content may not be appropriate for children.
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All Events Are First Come First Served, FREE And Open To The Public.

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Your generous contribution will help continue to bring programs like the Bard & Broadside Poetry Festival to our community free of charge.

This event is brought to you by, ARTSPEAKSgnv Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The organization's primary mission is to support literacy in youth and adults through the art of Poetry, Spoken Word, Storytelling, and Creative Writing. ARTSPEAKS promotes healthy communities by utilizing all forms of creativity and artistic expression through collaboration with educational and public health organizations.

Want to support us? 

Learn More
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Thank You to Our Sponsors

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Funding for this program was provided in part by Visit Gainesville / Alachua County and through a grant from Florida Humanities with funds from the Jacarlene Foundation. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the Jacarlene Foundation.

For more information, contact bardandbroadside@gmail.com

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