Celebrate Poetry in Hill-Stead’s Sunken Garden
One of Hill-Stead’s most popular annual events is the Sunken Garden Poetry Festival. Now entering its 28th year, this one-of-a-kind event continues to celebrate poets laureate, Pulitzer Prize winners, and prestigious award recipients.
Our 2020 Festival honors its first Native American poet laureate, Joy Harjo. This year’s event will take place on the West Lawn and attendees will be properly socially distanced in clearly marked pods.
The community cherishes this annual series of readings and music performances on the grounds of this National Historic Landmark in the heart of Farmington, CT.
Bring a blanket, chairs, and a picnic. Inspired by the surroundings, many attendees take the opportunity to write their own poetry and prose, lingering after dusk to finish their poems and conversations.
Tickets must be purchased in advance. No tickets will be sold at the gate.
Don’t fret if you cannot be there in person. You can tune in from the comfort of your home with a Livestream presentation as it happens.
Hill-Stead is proud to make the Sunken Garden Poetry Festival accessible to all. Learn More
See all poetry events in our Calendar
Help us keep each other safe and stop the spread of COVID 19
Celebration of Young Poets
This evening at the Sunken Garden Poetry Festival features readings by Chen Chen and the winners of the Fresh Voice Poetry Competition. In-person and livestream tickets are available.
Find out more »Sunken Garden Poetry Festival – Nick Flynn
This evening at the Sunken Garden Poetry Festival features Nick Flynn
Find out more »Sunken Garden Poetry Festival – Poets on the Almighty Dollar
This evening at the Sunken Garden Poetry Festival features poem-writing workshops, a panel discussion, and readings by contributors to The Poetry of Capital, an anthology released in 2021.
Find out more »Sunken Garden Poetry Festival – Poets and the Earth
The day will include poetry workshops and readings by a selection of poets from Waking Up to the Earth: Connecticut Poets in a Time of Global Climate Crisis, a new anthology.
Find out more »Signed Poetry Volumes Available
Please check out these must-read picks from the celebrated poets of Hill-Stead’s 2020 Sunken Garden Poetry Festival. Click on a title to be taken to RJ Julia Booksellers to purchase. You will receive a signed bookplate by either Joy Harjo and Mahogany L. Browne, depending on the title purchased.
Mahogany L. Browne
Woke: A Young Poet’s Guide to Justice
Black Girl Magic
Woke Baby
Joy Harjo
An American Sunrise
When The Light of the World Was Subdued, Our Songs Came Through
Crazy Brave
Tickets
In-person ticket | $20 per person
Tickets must be purchased in advance. No tickets will be sold at the gate.
Livestream ticket | $10 per household
Enjoy the world-class Sunken Garden Poetry Festival from the comforts of your own backyard or couch!
Purchase in-person or livestream ticket by following the links below.
Join the Live Poets Society
We need your donations to help us keep the Sunken Garden Poetry Festival, one of the premier poetry events in the country, alive and well. All gifts will directly support the Sunken Garden Poetry Festival.
- A gift of any amount is appreciated and will make an impact. Donate Now
- Donors who gift $100 or more to the Live Poets Society receive special benefits including reserved priority seating for the 2020 Sunken Garden Poetry Festival. For more information, see Live Poets Society Benefits.
Thank you to our sponsors
Ellen Jeanne Goldfarb Memorial Charitable Trust
The Goldfarb Family
Elizabeth M. Landon & Harriette M. Landon Charitable Foundation
