Poetry & Literary Opportunities in Northern Lake County, IL

Northern Lake County, Illinois, holds a thriving literary landscape that spans suburban hubs, historic downtowns, lakefront communities, and college campuses. From North Chicago, Park City, Waukegan, Zion, and Winthrop Harbor along Lake Michigan to inland municipalities like Antioch, Buffalo Grove, Deerfield, Fox Lake, Grayslake, Gurnee, Lake Zurich, Libertyville, and Mundelein—as well as neighboring communities like Highland Park, Lake Villa, Lake Forest, Round Lake, Vernon Hills, and Lindenhurst—writers and literature enthusiasts have access to an interconnected network of creative platforms.

This comprehensive guide, published by The Poetry Movement, provides detailed poetry and creative writing listings across Northern Lake County. If you find inaccurate information and can provide correction, or if you are aware of other opportunities and can provide details regarding the day/time/dates, cost, frequency, location, and contact person(s), along with links to any relevant websites, social media profiles, media coverage and ticketing websites, please email complete information to info@thepoetrymovement.org

1. Poetry Open Mics & Featured Readings

Highland Park Poetry Monthly Reading & Open Mic Series

• Opportunity Name: Monthly Reading & Open Mic Series

• Organizer / Host: Highland Park Poetry (Co-founded by Jennifer Dotson, in partnership with local cultural venues)

• Location & Address: Rotating physical venues in Northern Lake County, primarily Secret World Books (1770 First St, Highland Park, IL 60035) and Wayfarer Theaters (1850 Second St, Highland Park, IL 60035)

• Schedule & Frequency: Second Saturday of each month; 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

• Cover Charge / Fee: Free admission; open mic sign-up at the door

• Eligibility: Open to all poets, spoken word performers, and listeners of all ages

• Contact Information: Email: info@highlandparkpoetry.org | Phone: (773) 294-8947

• Significant Details: Established in 2007, Highland Park Poetry has produced over 180 consecutive monthly events featuring regional and national poets alongside open mic slots. Each session features two scheduled guest poets followed by a 3-minute open mic for community members.

• Links: Official Website | Facebook Page | ArtsLink North Feature

Black Lung Brewing Thursday Open Mic Showcase

• Opportunity Name: Thursday Night Creative Open Mic

• Organizer / Host: Black Lung Brewing Company (Hosted by Kent Lewis & Despina)

• Location & Address: 2 South Lake Street, Grayslake, IL 60030

• Schedule & Frequency: Every Thursday evening; 7:00 PM – 10:30 PM

• Cover Charge / Fee: Free (No cover charge)

• Eligibility: Open to poets, acoustic musicians, comedians, and storytellers

• Contact Information: Email: josh@blacklungbrewing.com | Phone: (847) 340-3320

• Significant Details: A staple of Downtown Grayslake's evening art scene, providing an intimate performance environment for local writers to test new poetry, spoken word, and flash fiction.

• Links: Official Event Page | Black Lung Facebook | Daily Herald Event Listing

2. Annual Literary Festivals, Conferences & Fairs

Annual Grayslake AuthorFest & Poetry Gathering

• Opportunity Name: Grayslake AuthorFest

• Organizer / Host: Grayslake Arts Alliance, Grayslake Historical Society, This Old Book, and Voices of Lake County

• Location & Address: Grayslake Heritage Center & Museum, 164 Hawley Street, Grayslake, IL 60030

• Schedule & Frequency: Annually in mid-July; 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM

• Cover Charge / Fee: Free to the public; author table registration $25–$45

• Eligibility: Open to all authors, poets, zinesters, and readers across Lake County and Northern Illinois

• Contact Information: Email: info@grayslakehistory.org | Phone: (847) 543-1740

• Significant Details: Founded in 2023, AuthorFest hosts over 50 regional authors and poets. Features live typewriter poetry stations, interactive blackout/erasure poetry tables, panel discussions on publishing, and youth creative writing contests.

• Links: Official Event Details | Grayslake Arts Alliance Facebook | Daily Herald Coverage

3. Poetry Organizations, Guilds & Writers Groups

Illinois State Poetry Society (ISPS) – Northern Chapter

• Organizer / Host: Illinois State Poetry Society

• Location & Address: Rotating library meeting rooms across Northern Lake County, including Fremont Public Library (1170 N Midlothian Rd, Mundelein, IL 60060) and Cook Park Library (413 N Milwaukee Ave, Libertyville, IL 60048)

• Schedule & Frequency: Third Sunday of every month; 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM

• Cover Charge / Fee: Guests free; annual ISPS membership $25/year

• Eligibility: Open to all practicing and emerging poets

• Contact Information: Email: ispspoets@gmail.com | Phone: (847) 548-6951

• Significant Details: Established in 1991, ISPS Northern Chapter offers structured critique sessions, poetry prompts, chapbook publishing guidance, and annual poetry contests affiliated with the National Federation of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS).

• Links: Official ISPS Website | ISPS Facebook Group | Daily Herald Cultural Feature

Voices of Lake County & Lake County Writers Collective

• Organizer / Host: Voices of Lake County Coordinating Committee

• Location & Address: Grayslake Village Center (148 S Center St, Grayslake, IL 60030) and virtual hybrid

• Schedule & Frequency: First & Third Thursday of the month; 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM

• Cover Charge / Fee: Free membership

• Eligibility: Writers of all genres (poetry, memoir, fiction) living in Lake County

• Contact Information: Email: voicesoflakecounty@gmail.com | Phone: (847) 548-6951

• Significant Details: Focuses on community-building through peer critique, public poetry installations, chapbook anthologies, and community literacy partnerships across North Chicago, Waukegan, and central Lake County.

• Links: Official Page | Instagram | Lake County News-Sun Press Coverage

4. Independent New & Used Bookstores

This Old Book (Grayslake)

• Organizer / Host: Owned and operated by Mary and John Komornicki

• Location & Address: 138 Center Street, Downtown Grayslake, IL 60030

• Schedule & Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM (Wednesdays open until 7:00 PM)

• Cover Charge / Fee: Free entry; trade-in credit program available

• Eligibility: Open to the public

• Contact Information: Email: thisoldbook138@gmail.com | Phone: (847) 548-6951

• Significant Details: Established in 2002, housing over 35,000 vintage, out-of-print, and contemporary titles. Acts as a community hub for local indie poetry releases, author signings, and book exchange programs.

• Links: Official Website | Facebook Page | Daily Herald Business Feature

Little Bean Books (Antioch)

• Organizer / Host: Little Bean Books Management

• Location & Address: 875 Main Street, Antioch, IL 60002

• Schedule & Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Sunday 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

• Cover Charge / Fee: Free entry

• Eligibility: Open to all ages

• Contact Information: Email: info@littlebeanbooks.com | Phone: (224) 788-5120

• Significant Details: Serves the far northern Lake County communities of Antioch, Fox Lake, and Lake Villa with curated fiction, local author displays, children's poetry, and writing circles.

• Links: Official Website | Instagram | Lake County Journal Feature

Lake Forest Book Store (Serving Southern & Eastern Lake County)

• Organizer / Host: Women-owned independent bookstore since 1949

• Location & Address: 662 N Bank Ln, Lake Forest, IL 60045

• Schedule & Hours: Monday–Saturday 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM; Sunday 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM

• Cover Charge / Fee: Free entry

• Eligibility: Open to all readers and authors

• Contact Information: Email: lakeforestbookstore@gmail.com | Phone: (847) 234-4420

• Significant Details: Operating for over 75 years, hosting regular author readings, poetry signings, and book discussions serving nearby Deerfield, Buffalo Grove, and Lake Bluff.

• Links: Official Website | Facebook | Chicago Tribune Spotlight

5. Public Libraries with Regular Poetry Events & Workshops

Warren-Newport Public Library District (Gurnee & Park City)

• Opportunity Name: Friends of WNPL Creative Writing & Poetry Contest / Writers Workshops

• Organizer / Host: Warren-Newport Public Library District Adult & Teen Services

• Location & Address: 224 N. O'Plaine Road, Gurnee, IL 60031

• Schedule & Frequency: Monthly adult writing workshops on 1st Tuesday at 6:30 PM; Annual Creative Writing Contest submitted every winter (Deadline early March)

• Cover Charge / Fee: Free

• Eligibility: Serves residents of Gurnee, Park City, Waukegan, and surrounding townships

• Contact Information: Email: creativewriting@wnpl.info | Phone: (847) 244-5150

• Significant Details: Host of the 33rd Annual Friends of WNPL Creative Writing Contest, featuring dedicated cash prize awards for poetry across youth, teen, and adult divisions.

• Links: Official WNPL Site | WNPL Facebook | Daily Herald Contest Feature

Antioch Public Library District

• Opportunity Name: Creative Writing Workshop Series

• Organizer / Host: Antioch Public Library District Youth & Adult Services

• Location & Address: 757 Main Street, Antioch, IL 60002

• Schedule & Frequency: First Wednesday evening (6:00 PM) and Third Sunday afternoon (2:00 PM – 3:00 PM)

• Cover Charge / Fee: Free; pre-registration encouraged

• Eligibility: Open to middle school, high school, and adult community writers

• Contact Information: Email: reference@apld.info | Phone: (847) 395-0874

• Significant Details: Provides constructive peer feedback workshops for poems, flash fiction, and manuscript excerpts in a supportive setting.

• Links: Official APLD Event Calendar | APLD Facebook | Antioch News Feature

Cook Memorial Public Library District (Libertyville & Vernon Hills)

• Opportunity Name: Cook Memorial Writers Group & Poetry Month Spotlights

• Organizer / Host: Cook Memorial Public Library District Programming Department

• Location & Address: Cook Park Library (413 N. Milwaukee Ave, Libertyville, IL 60048) & Aspen Drive Library (70 Aspen Dr, Vernon Hills, IL 60061)

• Schedule & Frequency: Second Tuesday of each month; 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM

• Cover Charge / Fee: Free

• Eligibility: Open to all Lake County residents ages 16+

• Contact Information: Email: webmaster@cooklib.org | Phone: (847) 362-2330

• Significant Details: Serves Libertyville, Mundelein, Vernon Hills, and Green Oaks with writing prompt sessions, craft talks, and annual April National Poetry Month showcases.

• Links: Official Website | Facebook | Daily Herald Coverage

Waukegan Public Library

• Opportunity Name: Urban Voices Poetry & Spoken Word Circle

• Organizer / Host: Waukegan Public Library Community Engagement Division

• Location & Address: 128 N. County Street, Waukegan, IL 60085

• Schedule & Frequency: First Monday of the month; 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM

• Cover Charge / Fee: Free

• Eligibility: Open to all; bilingual (English/Spanish) writers strongly encouraged

• Contact Information: Email: reference@waukeganpl.info | Phone: (847) 623-2041

• Significant Details: Serving Waukegan, North Chicago, and Park City with bilingual poetry slams, youth writing modules, and community storytelling projects.

• Links: Official Website | Facebook | Lake County News-Sun Article

6. Poetry Publishers, Literary Magazines & Small Presses

Willow Review (College of Lake County Press)

• Opportunity Name: Willow Review Annual Literary Journal

• Organizer / Host: Department of Communication Arts & Humanities, College of Lake County (Editor: Miguel Jimenez)

• Location & Address: 19351 W. Washington St., Room E139, Grayslake, IL 60030

• Schedule & Submissions: Submissions accepted year-round (Annual deadline: January 15); Spring Launch Reading held every April

• Cover Charge / Fee: $0 submission fee (Free)

• Eligibility: Open to international submissions, with a dedicated editorial focus on Midwestern writers

• Contact Information: Email: mjimenez6@clcillinois.edu | Phone: (847) 543-2554

• Significant Details: Celebrating over 52 years of continuous publication (established 1973). Awards cash prizes ($100–$400) for outstanding poetry and prose published in each issue.

• Links: Willow Review Official Page | CLC Facebook Page | ArtsLink North Profile

Tusitala Literary Magazine (Lake Forest College)

• Opportunity Name: Tusitala Bi-Annual Journal

• Organizer / Host: Lake Forest College English & Creative Writing Department

• Location & Address: 555 N. Sheridan Road, Lake Forest, IL 60045

• Schedule & Submissions: Bi-annual publishing cycles in Fall and Spring semesters

• Cover Charge / Fee: Free submission

• Eligibility: Open to students, faculty, alumni, and regional guest contributors

• Contact Information: Email: tusitala@lakeforest.edu | Phone: (847) 735-5000

• Significant Details: Established in 1935, Tusitala is one of the oldest college literary magazines in Northern Illinois, publishing poetry, flash fiction, and visual art.

• Links: Official Page | Lake Forest College Instagram | College Press Feature

7. Poetry Contests, Awards & Poet Laureate Programs

Prairie State Poetry Prize & Highland Park Poetry Annual Contests

• Opportunity Name: Prairie State Poetry Book Contest & Seasonal Challenges

• Organizer / Host: Highland Park Poetry Press

• Location & Address: 1690 Midland Avenue, Highland Park, IL 60035

• Schedule & Deadlines: Book contest submission deadline: February 15 annually; Winner announced during National Poetry Month in April

• Cover Charge / Fee: $15 manuscript submission fee

• Eligibility: Open to poets residing in Illinois (including all Lake County towns) publishing 1st or 2nd full-length collections

• Contact Information: Email: entry@highlandparkpoetry.org | Phone: (773) 294-8947

• Significant Details: The winning author receives publication, 25 author copies, a $500 cash honorarium, and a sponsored regional library reading tour across Lake County.

• Links: Official Contest Rules | Highland Park Poetry Twitter/X | Chicago Tribune Article

Friends of WNPL Annual Creative Writing & Poetry Contest

• Opportunity Name: 33rd Annual Friends of WNPL Creative Writing Contest

• Organizer / Host: Friends of Warren-Newport Public Library

• Location & Address: 224 N. O'Plaine Road, Gurnee, IL 60031

• Schedule & Deadline: Annual submission deadline: Early March (e.g., March 1, 2026)

• Cover Charge / Fee: Free (No entry fee)

• Eligibility: Open to students (Grades 3–12) and Adults residing in the WNPL district (Gurnee, Park City)

• Contact Information: Email: creativewriting@wnpl.info | Phone: (847) 244-5150

• Significant Details: Grants 24 total cash prizes ($50 1st place, $30 2nd place, $20 3rd place) across poetry and short story categories. Winning entries are published in a library anthology.

• Links: Official Contest Guidelines PDF | WNPL Facebook | Gurnee Press Coverage

8. University & College Writing Programs, Workshops & Community Classes

Creative Writing Program at College of Lake County (CLC)

• Opportunity Name: CLC Creative Writing Courses & Community Workshops

• Organizer / Host: College of Lake County Division of Communications & Professional Studies

• Location & Address: Grayslake Campus (19351 W. Washington St, Grayslake, IL 60030) and Lakeshore Campus (33 N. Genesee St, Waukegan, IL 60085)

• Schedule & Frequency: Fall, Spring, and Summer terms (Day, Evening, and Online options)

• Cover Charge / Fee: Standard tuition rates for credit courses; $49–$149 for non-credit community education workshops

• Eligibility: Open to degree-seeking students and non-credit community adult learners

• Contact Information: Email: CPEInfo@clcillinois.edu | Phone: (847) 543-2990

• Significant Details: Offers course options like Introduction to Poetry Writing (ENG 229) and Creative Writing Workshop (ENG 249). Students gain hands-on editorial experience working on Willow Review.

• Links: CLC Creative Writing Department | CLC Instagram | Daily Herald Higher Ed Feature

Lake Forest College Creative Writing Program

• Opportunity Name: B.A. in Creative Writing & Community Reading Series

• Organizer / Host: Lake Forest College Department of English & Creative Writing

• Location & Address: 555 N. Sheridan Road, Lake Forest, IL 60045

• Schedule & Frequency: Undergraduate semester courses; seasonal guest poet readings open to the public

• Cover Charge / Fee: Undergraduate tuition for degree courses; public guest lectures free

• Eligibility: Degree-seeking undergraduates; guest reading events open to the public

• Contact Information: Email: english@lakeforest.edu | Phone: (847) 735-5260

• Significant Details: Home to the Madeleine P. Plonsker Emerging Writer's Residency and Tusitala literary journal, regularly bringing nationally acclaimed poets to Eastern Lake County.

• Links: Official Program Page | Lake Forest College Facebook | Chicago Tribune Feature