The Petaluma Poetry Walk

The Petaluma Poetry Walk

Join us this year for the
28th Annual Petaluma Poetry Walk
Sunday, September 21, 2025, 11am–8pm
Petaluma, CA

Lee Herrick, Poet Laureate of California reads. Photo by Jimmy Johnson.
Lee Herrick, Poet Laureate of California reads. Photo by Jimmy Johnson.
Daedalus Howell introduces poets at Keller Street CoWork. Photo by Kary Hess.
Daedalus Howell introduces poets at Keller Street CoWork. Photo by Kary Hess.
Jonah Raskin is accompanied on bass by Steve Shain at Keller CoWork. Photo by Michael Woolsey.
Jonah Raskin is accompanied on bass by Steve Shain at Keller CoWork. Photo by Michael Woolsey.
Jonah Raskin reads to a crowd at Keller CoWork. Photo by Michael Woolsey.
Jonah Raskin reads to a crowd at Keller CoWork. Photo by Michael Woolsey.
Fernando Nugent and Daedalus Howell share a laugh. Photo by Michael Woolsey.
Fernando Nugent and Daedalus Howell share a laugh. Photo by Michael Woolsey.
Audience at the Phoenix Theater. Photo by Michael Woolsey.
Audience at the Phoenix Theater. Photo by Michael Woolsey.
two women
Youth Poet Laureate Lisa Zheng and Sonoma County Sabine Wolpert Youth Poet Ambassador. 2024-25. Photo by Kary Hess.
Youth Poet Laureate Lisa Zheng and Sonoma County Sabine Wolpert Youth Poet Ambassador. 2024-25. Photo by Kary Hess.
Youth Poet Laureate Lisa Zheng and Sonoma County Sabine Wolpert Youth Poet Ambassador. 2024-25. Photo by Kary Hess.
poets reading
Georgina Marie Guardado reads at the The Petaluma Historical Library and Museum. Photo by Kary Hess
poets at the Phoenix Theater
Poet Nancy Miller Gomez reads at the Phoenix Theater. Photo by Kary Hess.
Poetry at Keller CoWork. Photo by Michael Woolsey.
Poetry at Keller CoWork. Photo by Michael Woolsey.
Genny Lim reads at Copperfield's Books. Photo by Jimmy Johnson.
Genny Lim reads at Copperfield’s Books. Photo by Jimmy Johnson.
Gwynn O'Gara and Kary Hess. Photo by Kary Hess.
Gwynn O’Gara and Kary Hess. Photo by Kary Hess.
Maxine Flasher Dezgunes dances to poetry. Photo by Michael Woolsey.
Maxine Flasher Dezgunes dances to poetry. Photo by Michael Woolsey.
Gwynn O'Gara and John Johnson enjoy the poetry of Lee Herrick at Copperfields. Photo by Jimmy Johnson.
Gwynn O’Gara and John Johnson enjoy the poetry of Lee Herrick at Copperfields. Photo by Jimmy Johnson.
Genny Lim, poet laureate of SAn Francisco. Photo by Jimmy Johnson.
Genny Lim, poet laureate of SAn Francisco. Photo by Jimmy Johnson.
Poets read at Aqus Café. Photo by Kary Hess.
Poets read at Aqus Café. Photo by Kary Hess
Checking out The Walk Guide. Photo by Michael Woolsey.
Checking out The Walk Guide. Photo by Michael Woolsey.
Maxine Flasher Dezgunes dances to poetry. Photo by Michael Woolsey.
Maxine Flasher Dezgunes dances to poetry. Photo by Michael Woolsey.
Dollhouse
House of Inconsolable Objects by Nancy Miller Gomez. Photo by Kary Hess.
poetry reading
Daedalus Howell introduces poets at Keller Street CoWork. Photo by Kary Hess.
Maxine Flasher-Düzgüneş dances to poetry at the Phoenix Theater. Photo by Jimmy Johnson.
Maxine Flasher-Düzgüneş dances to poetry at the Phoenix Theater. Photo by Jimmy Johnson.
Alice Templeton reads at he Hotel Petaluma. Photo by Kary Hess.
Alice Templeton reads at he Hotel Petaluma. Photo by Kary Hess.
Iris Jamahl Dunkle introduces the poets laureate at Copperfield's Books. Photo by Jimmy Johnson.
Iris Jamahl Dunkle introduces the poets laureate at Copperfield’s Books. Photo by Jimmy Johnson.
Emily Schulten Reads at the Petaluma Cheese Shop. Photo by Kary Hess.
Emily Schulten Reads at the Petaluma Cheese Shop. Photo by Kary Hess.
Lee Herrick, Poet Laureate of California reads. Photo by Jimmy Johnson.
Lee Herrick, Poet Laureate of California reads. Photo by Jimmy Johnson.
Poetry books. Photo by Jimmy Johnson.
Poetry books. Photo by Jimmy Johnson.
Lee Herrick, Poet Laureate of California reads. Photo by Jimmy Johnson.
Lee Herrick, Poet Laureate of California reads. Photo by Jimmy Johnson.
Emily Schulten at the Petaluma Cheese Shop. Photo by Michael Woolsey.
Emily Schulten at the Petaluma Cheese Shop. Photo by Michael Woolsey.
Phoenix Theater. Photo by Jimmy Johnson.
Phoenix Theater. Photo by Jimmy Johnson.
Lee Herrick, Poet Laureate of California reads. Photo by Jimmy Johnson.
Lee Herrick, Poet Laureate of California reads. Photo by Jimmy Johnson.
Bill Vartnaw introduces the poets at the Petaluma Cheese Shop. Photo by Michael Woolsey.
Bill Vartnaw introduces the poets at the Petaluma Cheese Shop. Photo by Michael Woolsey.
Gene Burson Reads at the Petaluma Cheese Shop. Photo by Michael Woolsey.
Gene Burson Reads at the Petaluma Cheese Shop. Photo by Michael Woolsey.
Poets Ellery Ackers, Lee Rossi, and Francesca Bell at Usher Gallery. Photo by Kary Hess.
Poets Ellery Ackers, Lee Rossi, and Francesca Bell at Usher Gallery. Photo by Kary Hess.
Daedalus Howell introduces poets at Keller CoWork. Photo by Michael Woolsey.
Daedalus Howell introduces poets at Keller CoWork. Photo by Michael Woolsey.
Poet Ellery Ackers reads at Usher Gallery. Photo by Kary Hess.
Poet Ellery Ackers reads at Usher Gallery. Photo by Kary Hess.
Lynn Watson reads at the Petaluma Cheese Shop. Photo by Michael Woolsey.
Lynn Watson reads at the Petaluma Cheese Shop. Photo by Michael Woolsey.
Jonah Raskin reads at Keller CoWork. Photo by Michael Woolsey.
Jonah Raskin reads at Keller CoWork. Photo by Michael Woolsey.
Bill Vartnaw at Keller CoWork. Photo by Michael Woolsey.
Bill Vartnaw at Keller CoWork. Photo by Michael Woolsey.
Steve Shain accompanies poet Stacey Tuel. Photo by Michael Woolsey.
Steve Shain accompanies poet Stacey Tuel. Photo by Michael Woolsey.
Lisa Summers Reads at Keller CoWork. Photo by Michael Woolsey.
Lisa Summers Reads at Keller CoWork. Photo by Michael Woolsey.
Skateboard shop at the Phoenix Theater venue. Photo by Michael Woolsey.
Skateboard shop at the Phoenix Theater venue. Photo by Michael Woolsey.
Nancy Miller Gomez reads at the Phoenix Theater. Photo by Michael Woolsey.
Nancy Miller Gomez reads at the Phoenix Theater. Photo by Michael Woolsey.
Avotcja reads at the Phoenix Theater. Photo by Michael Woolsey.
Avotcja reads at the Phoenix Theater. Photo by Michael Woolsey.
The Phoenix Theater. Photo by Michael Woolsey.
The Phoenix Theater. Photo by Michael Woolsey.
Maxine Flasher-Duzgunes reads at the Phoenix Theater. Photo by Michael Woolsey.
Maxine Flasher-Duzgunes reads at the Phoenix Theater. Photo by Michael Woolsey.
Genny Lim reads at Copperfield's Books. Photo by Michael Woolsey.
Genny Lim reads at Copperfield’s Books. Photo by Michael Woolsey.

Photos by Michael Woolsey, Jimmy Johnson, and Kary Hess.

Thank you to all who helped make the 2024 Petaluma Poetry Walk a huge success! We hosted 25 poets in eight venues and had more than 60 attendees at each event, with 100 poetry lovers listening to our California and San Francisco Poet Laureates!

The Petaluma Poetry Walk is an annual poetry festival founded in September 1996 by the late poet Geri Digiorno. The event has grown over the years, attracting notable poets and a diverse audience. During this day-long “movable feast,” participants walk to different locations to enjoy a variety of poetic performances. It has become a cherished tradition in Petaluma, reflecting the city’s rich cultural and literary heritage.

The 2024 Petaluma Poetry Walk thanks the following donors for their generous support:

The Judy Stedman Memorial Fund, Aqus Café, Karen Peterson, Robin Mills, JoAnne Rosen, Donna Camp, Anonymous, Timothy Bacon, Jodi Hottel, Scott Hensel, Dottie Lynch, Daedalus Howell, Jimmy Johnson, and Michael Woolsey.

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