Mic Check Poetry Fest 2025
November 13-15
Two powerful poets perform live at The Hancher on Friday night, then lead workshops on Saturday afternoon. Saturday night, top Iowa poets perform live with The Blake Shaw Quartet.
Support is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Iowa Arts
Council, which exists within the Iowa Economic Development Authority.
Registration
Adults 19+ can purchase individual tickets to select events below or get a Fest Pass for easy access to the entire festival at one low price.
Teens 13-18 are invited to attend all events and youth workshops for FREE with registration!
Panel Discussions
Thursday, November 13
Spoken Word in the Academy Panel
Enjoy a lively discussion at one of Iowa City's favorite literary spaces.
Time: 5:30 pm
Location: Prairie Lights, 15 S Dubuque St.
This is a free panel! Registration not required!
SATURday, November 15
4:30 pm and after
Building Spoken Word Communities
Join Iowa poetry community leaders as they discuss what it means to build community, how to do it, and the experiences they’ve learned from. This FREE panel is for anyone interested in getting more connected with poetry in Iowa and/or hoping to contribute to their local poetry community. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel, you just have to find those already on a roll!
Time: 4:30-5:30 pm
Location: Iowa City Public Library, Meeting Room A
This is a free panel! Registration not required!
Teaching Spoken Word in the Classroom
Why include spoken word poetry on college and high school syllabi? What are the benefits of including slam poems in both contemporary literature courses and creative writing workshops? In this panel discussion between college and high school teachers, we'll consider how slam poetry challenges the established stories of American literary history and is also integral to them.
Time: 4:30-5:30 pm
Location: MERGE, 136 S. Dubuque Street
This is a free panel! Registration not required!
