The Poetry Center San Jose is taking the weekend to celebrate the city’s diverse ethnic and cultural heritage with their fourth annual San Jose Poetry Festival. The two-day event will be split into a day of performances and a day of workshops. Saturday will consist of readings and performances by local talent all day, along with a shorter press event until 5. Sunday will feature a slew of writing workshops organized around different themes. Day one visitors will also get the chance to try out some East African-inspired Somali entrees served by Safari Kitchen.

San Jose Poetry Festival
Sat-Sun, 9am, $5+
History Park, San Jose

San Jose is celebrating its third annual poetry festival. The festival will commemorate the diversity within the local literary community and will feature readings and performances from several poets, such as Arlene Biala, Santa Clara County’s poet laureate. Other speakers include Native American writer and poet Deborah A. Miranda and Persis Karim, a scholar of the Iranian diaspora. The festival will highlight both the differences and similarities of poetry across cultures—from haiku and Hindi, to Middle Eastern and Latin styles. The festival runs through Sunday and will feature multiple writing workshops.

San Jose Poetry Festival
Sat, 9am, $5+
History Park, San Jose