32nd Annual Poetry Marathon & Benefit
Sat. & Sun., Jan. 24 & 25, 2026 | 10 am-10 pm
HYBRID In person and livestreaming via Crowdcast
@ SAINT KATE – The Arts Hotel | 139 E Kilbourn Ave, Milwaukee
COME SHARE THE JOY!
Get ready to join us for our second-ever hybrid Poetry Marathon! After a joyous and successful first run last year, we’re excited to continue combining in-person and virtual performances at Saint Kate—the Arts Hotel, here in Milwaukee.
The Marathon will unfold over the course of two days and 24 hours, and will feature not only hundreds of poets from our city, region, and beyond, but also live musical performances, screenings of moving-image works, and various surprises. Performances will take place before a live audience, and will also be livestreamed via Crowdcast. Once again, we’ll have lunch and dinner available for participants and ticket holders, thanks to Saint Kate.
Poets—be sure to register early, not only to ensure your spot but also the time you prefer! While a majority of time slots will be held for in-person participants, there will also be opportunities to take part virtually for immuno-compromised and disabled poets, as well as for those too distant to join us at Saint Kate.
In addition to being an extraordinary event and a beloved tradition for poets of all ages, the Poetry Marathon serves as a community-driven fundraiser. All participating poets are asked to attempt to raise funds among family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc., and/or via social media, with a goal of $50 on each reader’s behalf. Those contributions are then matched by a sponsor for the hour and supplemented by major sponsorships.
Thanks to our community, funds raised through the Marathon each January have kept Woodland Pattern going strong for decades, providing fuel for all our programmatic activities in the year ahead.
FOR PARTICIPATING POETS
REGISTER TO READ: Registration opens for all poets on Wednesday, October 1, 2025. The deadline to register to join us in person is Monday, December 15, 2025.
All poets must register to participate! If you are participating as part of group, click on the "Curated Hours" button. All others should sign up via "Open Registration."
As of November 1, all open registration hours have filled! If you want to participate and are not part of a curated hour, please add your self to a waitlisted hour and we will let you know if we're able to offer you a spot.
Thank you in advance for sharing your work and for helping us raise funds that will support practicing poets and artists of all ages and backgrounds in the coming year. If you have questions or need help signing up to participate, please call us at 414-263-5001.
Registered virtual participants should submit materials—5 minute video of your reading, along with text of what you’ve presented for captioning—due Monday, December 1, 2025.
SPONSOR A POET: Like a traditional Marathon fundraiser, poets participating in our event seek to raise donations. Sponsoring a poet is a great way to support someone who is performing as well as Woodland Pattern. You can make your donation on the behalf of a particular poet, or if you’re unsure who to sponsor, consider a “Pledge a Reader” donation. Money received through these donations will go directly to a poet who is unable to meet their $50 fundraising goal.
SPONSOR AN HOUR: Want to do more? Each hour of funds raised by poets for the Marathon is matched by a $500 sponsorship. To underwrite an hour of the Poetry Marathon, contact Programming Director Michael Wendt at michaelw@woodlandpattern.org or call the center’s main line.
MAJOR SPONSORSHIPS: In addition to hour sponsorships, the Poetry Marathon is supported by major sponsors at the presenting, premier, and supporting levels. To learn more, download our sponsorship flyer below, email us at info@woodlandpattern.org, or call the center and ask for Executive Directors Jenny Gropp and Laura Solomon.
TICKETS: In order to make the Marathon as accessible as possible, this year we are offering tickets on a "Give What You Can" basis. A minimum suggested donation is $10. For those joining us for an entire day and enjoying meals, we suggest a minimum donation of $50 to help cover the cost of catering. Tickets will be available both online and at the door.
HOTEL DISCOUNTS: We’re happy to share that, like last year, the hotel has generously offered a block of discounted rooms for those traveling from out of town! Rooms must be booked by January 2 to receive discount!
FAQ FOR PARTICIPANTS
Thank you for taking part in this year's Poetry Marathon! Below is some basic information as you prepare for the event.
Q: What time should I show up for my performance?
A: You should arrive at Saint Kate at least one hour in advance of the hour you are reading in. Upon arrival, you will need to check in at the registration table, where you'll receive a wristband. Registration will be located near the gallery, to your left if entering Saint Kate on Water Street.
Q: Where should I park?
A: There is a parking garage directly connected to Saint Kate (on Water Street, just past the hotel), along with several others nearby.
Q: Can my performance go over 5 minutes?
A: As always, each poet participating in the Marathon is asked to limit their performance to five minutes. Part of what makes the Marathon so special is the equality of time and attention afforded each participant and the variety of poets who appear side by side. Keeping your performance to five minutes ensures that everyone's voice is heard.
Q: Will participating poets be fed?
A: YES! Lunch and dinner will be catered both days by Saint Kate.
Q: Can I stay for the whole Marathon?
A: YES, PLEASE! Participating poets can attend the entire Marathon—just hold on to your wristband!
Q: I'm on the waitlist. When will I hear back about whether there's a spot for me?
A: Throughout January, we will be checking in with registered poets to confirm particiation. As cancellations occur, we will contact waitlisted poets in the order they signed up to see if they'd like spots that have newly opened. All waitlisted poets should hear back from Woodland Pattern at least one week before the Marathon, but likely sooner.
Q: I'm not sure if I can raise $50. What if I can't meet the pledge goal?
A: Click here for a list of fundraising strategies that have been successful for other participating poets in the past. In our experience, most of the time poets are able to find donations to help them meet the minimum pledge goal, especially if asking several people to pledge just a few dollars each.
Questions?
We acknowledge that in Milwaukee we live and work on traditional Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk, and Menominee homelands along the southwest shores of Michigami, part of North America’s largest system of freshwater lakes, where the Milwaukee, Menominee, and Kinnickinnic rivers meet and the people of Wisconsin’s sovereign Anishinaabe, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Oneida, and Mohican nations remain present.
We further acknowledge the evil colonialism introduced to these lands through genocide and slavery, as well as through racist and xenophobic beliefs, laws, and practices that continue to inflict harm upon Black, brown, and Indigenous lives. We honor those who have lived—and do live, now—at these intersections of identity and experience.
720 E. Locust Street
Milwaukee, WI 53212
Phone: 414 263 5001
Hours: Tues–Sun | 12-7 pm
Closed Mon
Building Accessibility: Despite the age of our physical location, and attendant limitations to access, Woodland Pattern is committed to making its programs and facilities available for as many as possible. Please call for more information.
Events Accessibility: Woodland Pattern is able to offer captioning services for its online events and with advanced notice can provide ASL interpretation for live events. Please contact us with accommodation requests and questions.
© Woodland Pattern 2025