A day of words and wonder at the Northampton Literary Walk!
On April 20, Massachusetts Center for the Book and Forbes Library hosted a Northampton Literary Walk, partnering with several downtown businesses and organizations to provide a day of author readings, poetry, local history, giveaways, and more, all free and open to the public, in celebration of Northampton’s enduring literary spirit and National Poetry Month.
The day began at Northampton’s Bridge Street Cemetery, where Historic Northampton historian Emma John led an engaging tour of the grounds, shedding light on the lives and works of the icons buried there. The second stop was Northampton Center for the Arts for a poetry reading by local poets and a film screening of Chris Gentes’s thought-provoking short film, “What Is Poetry?”
Concurrently, at R. Michelson Galleries, renowned children’s authors and illustrators Micha Archer, Jane Dyer, Grace Lin, and Rich Michelson captivated an audience of children and adults with their unique storytelling and beautiful illustrations.
The next stop on the walk was a reading at Iconica Social Club. Local poets shared two heartfelt pieces—a cherished work by a Massachusetts poet and a personal creation inspired by it. The room was full, hearts were full, and applause abounded. This was followed by a reading at the Roost, which featured talented writers who excel in weaving weird and wild tales. Hosted by Pioneer Valley Writers Workshop Founder/Director Joy Baglio, the event enchanted all lovers of fantastical storytelling. During the day, participants were visiting Broadside Books to take part in a fun scavenger hunt for books matching specific prompts.
At Progression Brewing, Mass Center for the Book and Forbes Library ran three rounds of literary trivia, covering local authors, classics, and beloved characters. Participants battled for book prizes and bragging rights. Each round featured a question about Forbes Library—you can indeed check out jumper cables! The day ended on a calmer note at Sanctuary, where poet and yoga instructor Sebastian Merrill led a Writing & Yoga Workshop. Participants engaged in an asana practice designed to spark ideas, then turned to writing, using tools like meditation, bibliomancy, and tarot to tap into their creativity.
The Literary Walk saw a strong turnout and enthusiastic participation from attendees, which can be attributed to the collaborative efforts of Mass Center for the Book, Forbes Library, and the local organizations and venues mentioned here. We couldn’t have done it without them!
Thank you to everyone who attended. The event served as a testament to the power of the literary community in the Pioneer Valley.
Attendee Katharine Nelson commented, “It was a great event. I hope I am around when it happens again!” We do aim to do this again, either in Northampton or the surrounding communities. For anyone eager to attend similar literary happenings, catch us at the Boston Lit Crawl on June 6, where Mass Center for the Book, together with author Courtney Sender, will be putting on an Exquisite Corpse program at Bloc Cafe in Somerville, 8pm.
