Dodge Poetry Festival is always a much needed dose of medicine and this year was no different. Listening to poets "sing" their hearts and share the details of their craft is simply a gift. I love every session I attended though my absolute favorite poet was Aimee Nezhukumatathil. Also really enjoyed the NJ Symphony Orchestra. I wish the book store had been bigger as in prior years.
There's nothing like it...anywhere. Best poets, best poems, best conversations!
The panels and poets spanned all categories, young, wise, elder, LGBTQ, and ethnic. Most of all they exquisitely versed universal desires.
So well organized, there was nothing to do but enjoy. I wanted to attend this event for over a decade and it did not disappoint. Amazing to hear so many poets sharing their work and thoughts. Equally awesome to talk to other people attending. I enjoyed the food trucks, the bookstore, and having my picture taken with newly made friends! All of the venues were comfortable. I can't say enough about what a great time I had. I drove alone from TN, but immediately connected people to hang out with. Also the cost allows most people to afford it. A single concert ticket will cost more than what I paid for 4 days of wonderful poetry. No excuses! Get on the bus!
I had my doubts about going to a festival in downtown Newark, but they were quickly assuaged. The venues for the panels and presentations were gorgeous. The sound systems were flawless. The poets who presented were all easily approachable and genuinely interested in helping participants better understand poetic process. The panels and presenters were noteworthy for their diversity and represented widely varying views for the audience. The musical interludes were well chosen and truly added to the festival. I felt rejuvenated and stimulated by the three days I spent there.
The poets and the students and the facilities made this a memorable weekend. Highly recommend and will be back in two years.
Come for the poetry, put up with the rest: 1) problems with crowd control, especially on Friday, making it almost impossible to empty the auditorium. 2) Apparently no more access to the Robert Treat Hotel, easy walking distance for the elderly and others whose mobility may be challenged. 3) No more shuttle to the Hilton. a long walk from the PAC, which felt even longer in the rain. 4) Multiple website confusions: long delays in posting links to accommodations, lack of reply to inquiries, requirement that all tickets ordered were on a "will call" basis (turned out later not to be accurate). This was my sixth Dodge Poetry Festival, and I look forward to the next one, but attention to issues like this could make the experience so much more pleasant.
The Dodge Poetry Festival was outstanding once again. I was inspired, riveted, entertained, and educated with poetry from many walks of life.
Thank you for honing the festival into the Newark NJPAC and beautiful surrounding buildings. The sessions and readings were electric. Excellent diversity in offerings. This time felt more like the old "Waterloo Village" days than the past few festivals. Simply energizing.
The poets set good vibes and the music and tap was fun to watch. They even involved the crowd. This show made for a great evening.
