Get Lit! Festival

2023

Get Lit! is Washington State's longest running literary festival. It takes place each April in Spokane, WA. Get Lit!'s mission is to inspire creativity, celebrate diversity, and showcase the power of the written word.

Each year, Get Lit! presents a diverse lineup of free and low-cost literary events including readings, workshops, on-stage conversations, and much more.

get lit prrograms logo

Submissions for Get Lit! 2024 are open!

Do you want to participate in next year's festival?

Send us your idea via Submittable. Submissions close October 1, 2023. 

For inspiration, tune in to Get Lit!'s YouTube Channel to watch hundreds of hours of virtual festival programming. The 2023 Virtual Events include The Mind, The Body, The Writer, The Lost Horse Press Contemporary Ukrainian Poetry Series, EWU MFA Around the Globe, and more!

Virtual events from past years are available to watch as well and feature writers including Robin Wall Kimmerer, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, Jess Walter, and others.

Also, check out our 2023 authors and schedule below and join our mailing list to stay up-to-date with the latest festival news.

Subscribe

* indicates required

Get Lit!'s 25th Anniversary Festival

Thursday, April 20, 2023 - Sunday, April 23, 2023

Thank you for joining us in celebrating 25 years of the Get Lit! Festival! This year we had four full days of readings, writing workshops, craft classes, open mics, panel discussions, literary happy hours, and more— offered for free or at low-cost. Each year brings a diverse lineup of highly sought-after authors to our region, while also highlighting our local literary talent. This year, the current U.S. Poet Laureate, Ada Limón was one of our headlining authors. 

2023 Headlining Events

Women Writing in Full Color with Toni Jensen, Jane Wong, & CMarie Fuhrman

Friday, April 21st @ 7:00 PM

At The Spokane Central Library

This event is FREE & open to the public

An Evening with US Poet Laureate Ada Limón, Laura Read, & Gabrielle Bates

Saturday, April 22nd @ 7:00 PM

At The Bing Crosby Theater

Spokane Stories with Jess Walter & Leyna Krow

Sunday, April 23rd @ 7:00 PM

At The Spokane Central Library

This event is FREE & open to the public

2023 Book Fair and Events Pass

This ticket covers entry into our weekend festival hub, The Montvale Event Center, which hosts two full days of Book Fair and 17 events including readings, on-stage conversations, our annual Poetry Salon, a LIVE Dungeons & Dragons game, and so much more! This pass covers entry for both Saturday and Sunday and allows you to come and go as you please.

2023 Craft Classes

No Such Thing As a Dumb Idea: A Non-Fiction Craft Class with Leah Sottile

The Parent-Child Relationship in Fiction: A Fiction Craft Class with Sindya Bhanoo

Make Something from Nothing: How to Start a Poem: A Poetry Craft Class with Ada Limón

Combining the Personal and The Political: Weaving Your Stories with the World's News: A Non-Fiction Craft Class with Toni Jensen

Inspired Partnerships Program

Since 2017, local bars and restaurants have created drinks inspired by Get Lit! authors and donated $1 from each sale back to the festival.

 

Check out 2023's Inspired Partnerships!

BadSeedDrink