Coming December 5, 2026 to Racine, Wisconsin is the inaugural mid(we)st lit fest. 

Join us for a totall FREE day-long celebration of poetry, art and place. Activities will include

• Ekphrastic poetry workshops on writing in response to visual art with Wisconsin Poet Laureate Brenda Cárdenas 

• Open studio, gallery and museum exhibitions at OS Projects gallery, Racine Art Museum and more

• Interactive poetry activities and writing exercises at locations throughout the city

• A self-guided tour of Racine's Wall Poems organized by ArtRoot

• Free vendor expo tables for qualifying poets, artists and organizations

• A reception showcase and open open mic

Sign up for the Paper Knives email magazine to be the first to know when registration opens to reserve your workshop seat, vendor table & performance slot! Get ready for discounts from our partner restaurants and shops, as well as our hospitality provider partner Hotel Verdant, where you can already book your room at the reduced rate online or call (262) 456-6851 and mention the mid(we)st lit fest by the Poetry Movement.