Purdyfest is an annual August holiday gathering of poets in honour of Al Purdy’s famous poem, The Country North od Belleville. The get-together this year actually starts on July 29 with a pot-luck supper.
On Saturday at noon, the first literary event will be a symposium on the life and works of poet Raymond Souster. It will be held in Marmora’s local library. (Raymond was born in 1921 & lived in Toronto. He is a major Canadian poet who been honoured with the Order of Canada — he has written at least 50 books of poetry, shared in two others, and edited three poetry magazines.)
Purdyfest is a huge outdoor festival with people camping at Faiers’ ZenRiver Gardens retreat, and artists performing at the Marmora Dam. Expect poetry collections to be launched as part of the dozens of reading events throughout the day. On Sunday, the 31st, The Canada-Cuba Literary Alliance will offer a group reading at ZenRiver Gardens.
If you like poetry, this event is a chance to meet and get to know a number of developing and established Canadian artists. You can read your own work as well at the round robin reading starting at 4:30 on Saturday.
Check out the Quinte Arts Council page for more info: http://www.quinteartscouncil.org/Qac/QAC/arts/purdyfest.htm.
Filed under: Writers' events Tagged: | authors, book launch, Canada-Cuba Literary Alliance, poems, poetry reading, poets, published, Quinte, readings, Souster
