Surrounded by the natural beauty of the Fox River, the Green Bay area boasts a vibrant literary and poetry ecosystem. From long-running writers' guilds and university arts journals to independent bookstores, annual book festivals, and public library creative circles, Green Bay provides an inspiring literary environment for local poets and touring writers.

🎙️ Recurring Poetry Events & Open Mics

Poetry Night Open Mic at The Art Garage (Urban Cultural Arts)

Hosted by Urban Cultural Arts (618 Bodart St, Green Bay, WI 54301) and featured poet James Hamilton, Poetry Night Open Mic takes place periodically from 7:30pm to 9:30pm at The Art Garage (1400 Cedar St, Green Bay, WI 54301). This community evening brings together local poets and spoken word artists for an open stage featuring live verse, music interludes, and creative networking. Open mic spots are available on a walk-in basis. For contact information, phone Urban Cultural Arts at (920) 301-3479 or email UrbanCulturalArts@outlook.com. View event updates on the Urban Cultural Arts Events Directory and check visual art exhibitions at The Art Garage.

Poetry Book Club & Author Evenings at Lion's Mouth Bookstore

Located in Downtown Green Bay, Lion's Mouth Bookstore (211 N Washington St, Suite 107, Green Bay, WI 54301) hosts the Poetry Book Club on the second Sunday of every month at 2:00pm. Facilitated for community members, the club explores contemporary poetry collections, hybrid forms, and experimental chapbooks, frequently welcoming visiting authors and area poets for live readings and open discussions. Contact the store by phone at (920) 406-0200 or via email at amy@lionsmouthbookstore.com. Explore upcoming events and reading lists on the Lion's Mouth Bookstore Event Calendar.

Monthly Open Stage Night at Cup O' Joy

Cup O' Joy (232 S Broadway, Green Bay, WI 54303) hosts a monthly venue-wide Open Mic night from 7:00pm to 9:30pm. While music is a frequent draw, the stage welcomes poets, spoken word artists, and acoustic storytellers performing original works. Performer sign-ups take place in person between 6:00pm and 6:45pm prior to the show. Reach venue director Jan O. by phone at (920) 437-6694 or email jano@cupojoy.com. View performance schedules on the Cup O' Joy Open Mic Page.

Literary & Spoken Word Open Mic at The Attic Corner

Situated at 730 Bodart St, Green Bay, WI 54301, The Attic Corner functions as a fair-trade coffeehouse, tea shop, and used bookstore. The venue periodically hosts informal acoustic open mic nights, book discussions, and community poetry shares in its 3,000-square-foot seating space. For event updates or booking inquiries, call (920) 435-6515. Explore menu and shop hours on The Attic Corner Website.

Green Bay Area Writers Guild Monthly Gathering & Open Share 

The Green Bay Area Writers Guild meets from 4:30pm to 7:00pm on the first Tuesday of every month at Bay Family Restaurant (1301 S Military Ave, Green Bay, WI 54304). Dinner and casual networking off the menu begin at 4:30pm, followed by the main meeting, prompt exercises, and an open critique/share session from 5:30pm to 7:00pm in the private back room. Writers of all genres, including spoken word and page poetry, are invited to read recent work and receive constructive feedback. Read meeting announcements, guidelines, and member updates on the official Green Bay Writers Website, connect via the Green Bay Writers Guild Facebook Group, and read regional writer features on the Wisconsin Writers Association Regional Directory.

NWTC Artisans & Community Open Stage 

Hosted seasonally at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (2740 W Mason St, Green Bay, WI 54307), this campus and community open mic takes place on select weekday evenings from 6:00pm to 8:00pm in the Student Center or Commons. Organized by student clubs and humanities faculty, the stage welcomes poets, acoustic musicians, and flash fiction readers. Contact NWTC Student Life by phone at (920) 498-5400 or via email at studentlife@nwtc.edu. Explore event schedules on the NWTC Student Events Calendar, follow news on the NWTC Facebook Page, and view campus profiles on Green Bay Press-Gazette.

🎪 Literary Festivals, Conferences & Fairs

UntitledTown Book & Author Festival (Green Bay) Held across Downtown Green Bay venues—including Lion's Mouth Bookstore and local civic halls—the UntitledTown Book & Author Festival is a multi-day celebration of literature featuring keynote poets, craft workshops, publisher panels, and author signings. The festival offers extensive free programming to connect Midwest readers directly with local, regional, and national poets. Direct inquiries through partnering organizers at Lion's Mouth Bookstore by phone at (920) 403-0100. View festival event schedules and speaker lineups on the Lion's Mouth Bookstore UntitledTown Event Page, follow updates on the Lion's Mouth Bookstore Facebook Page, and read press features on Fox 11 News WLUK.

📚 Independent Bookshops, Libraries & Visual Art Galleries

Lion's Mouth Bookstore Located at 211 N Washington St, Green Bay, WI 54301, Lion's Mouth Bookstore is Downtown Green Bay's premier independent bookshop. Featuring an extensive selection of contemporary poetry, small-press titles, and local Wisconsin author displays, the shop hosts regular author talks, poetry readings, and book release parties. Contact the store staff by phone at (920) 403-0100 or via email at info@lionsmouthbookstore.com. Search inventory and upcoming events on the Lion's Mouth Bookstore Website, connect on the Lion's Mouth Bookstore Instagram, and read media profiles on Insight Publications.

Brown County Library - Central Library Situated at 515 Pine St, Green Bay, WI 54301, the Central Library branch of the Brown County Library system serves as a community host for adult creative writing workshops, National Poetry Month exhibits, and local writer write-in sessions. Open Monday through Saturday, the library provides free meeting rooms, research archives, and public computers. Reach staff by phone at (920) 448-4400. Search upcoming events on the Brown County Library Events Calendar, follow program updates on the Brown County Library Facebook Page, and read municipal news coverage on Civic Media / WGBW.

St. Norbert College Mulva Cultural Center & Galleries (De Pere - 6 miles south) Located at 400 Third St, De Pere, WI 54115, St. Norbert College regularly integrates poetry, literary lectures, and theatrical spoken word into its campus gallery programming. The college hosts visiting writers, ekphrastic poetry contests, and student readings in its art centers. Phone: (920) 403-3950. Email: communications@snc.edu. View upcoming programs on the St. Norbert College Events Calendar, follow updates on the St. Norbert College Facebook Page, and read regional profiles on De Pere Journal / Press-Gazette.

✍️ Writers Groups & Literary Organizations

Green Bay Area Writers Guild Established to foster literary craft across Brown County, the Green Bay Area Writers Guild connects poets, novelists, essayists, and memoirists. Meeting monthly at Bay Family Restaurant, the non-profit organization provides peer critique circles, writing prompt workshops, and advice on self-publishing and small-press submissions. Reach club leadership through the Green Bay Writers Website, join community discussions on the Green Bay Writers Facebook Group, and read member spotlights in the Green Bay Press-Gazette Archive.

🎓 University & College Creative Writing Programs

University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (UWGB) Applied Writing & English Department Located at 2420 Nicolet Dr, Green Bay, WI 54311, UW-Green Bay offers undergraduate majors and minors in English and Applied Writing with specialized tracks in poetry composition, publishing, and digital literary media. The department hosts visiting author reading series, creative writing masterclasses, and annual student literary awards. Contact the department office by phone at (920) 465-2307 or via email at awe@uwgb.edu. Explore degree paths on the UWGB English Department Website, follow academic updates on The Quill departmental blog at UWGB Quill Blog, and view university press releases on UWGB News.

St. Norbert College Humanities & English Department (De Pere - 6 miles south) Located at 100 Grant St, De Pere, WI 54115, St. Norbert College offers creative writing concentrations covering poetry, narrative prose, and drama. The college sponsors the Cassandra Voss Center cultural lectures and student poetry showcases. Contact the English department by phone at (920) 403-3100. Explore academic tracks on the St. Norbert College English Department Page, follow campus developments on the St. Norbert College Instagram, and read news features on NBC26 Green Bay.

📰 Publishers, Literary Magazines & Small Presses

Sheepshead Review (University of Wisconsin-Green Bay) Published continuously by students at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (2420 Nicolet Dr, Green Bay, WI 54311), Sheepshead Review is an international journal of arts and literature printed twice yearly in the fall and spring. The journal considers submissions of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, visual art, and interactive/digital media from UWGB students, regional Midwestern writers, and international authors. Managed out of the Theatre Hall academic building, the magazine offers students hands-on editing experience in poetry curation and layout design. Submissions are processed through their online portal during active reading windows. Explore guidelines and past digital content on the Sheepshead Review Submittable Portal, follow publication news on the Sheepshead Review Facebook Page, and read writer profiles on Poets & Writers.