Call for Entries: Poetry in the Park 2026

On June 13, 2026, Port Angeles Fine Arts Center (PAFAC) will hold its annual Poetry in the Park readings. Eighteen poets will be chosen to read their selections aloud in Webster's Woods courtyard. They will each receive an honorarium of $50 and will have a sign of their poem posted in Webster's Woods for the upcoming year.

The call for entries is open now. This year's theme centers on the cultivation of hope through nature. Think in terms of resilience and nature's impact on well-being. As a thought starter, remember these words from Mary Oliver's The Summer Day: ...what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?

Guidelines:

• Submissions close on April 15, 2026.
• Authors will be notified of the eighteen finalists on May 16th.
• Your poem must be a maximum of 30 lines (including blank spaces between verses). Lines must be a maximum of 10 words of 50 characters (including white space). Longer poems will not fit on the signs and will be disqualified.
• Send your entry to olypenauthors@olypen.com Attach a two page document in WORD or PAGES. The first page has the title of your poem plus your name and contact information. The second page contains the poem only (no author ID)..
• You may submit more than one entry but each in its own two-page attachment file.
• Three judges, chosen by Olympic Peninsula Authors, will select the 18 finalists.
• If you have questions, contact olypenauthors@olypen.com

Neither PAFAC nor OPA requires a submission fee for Poetry in the Park. If you would consider a contribution to PAFAC, it would be greatly appreciated and put to good use for upcoming programs. Donate here!