Spring Literary Festival

Spring Literary Festival Annual Spring Literary Festival
Western Carolina University This year, we also received funding from the North Carolina Arts Council.

Western Carolina University's Visiting Writers Series, the oldest such series in North Carolina, has a long tradition of bringing the best of both established and emerging literary talent to the mountains of Western North Carolina. While the area has a rich literary heritage all its own, the festival seeks to secure that heritage's place on the nation's literary stage by bringing local and nationa

l writers together. Over the years, the series has hosted such distinguished local writers as Fred Chappell, Lee Smith, Kathryn Stripling Byer, and R.T. Smith; well-known American writers Li-Young Lee, Thomas Lux, Linda Hogan, Carolyn Chute, Leslie Silko, Ntozake Shange, Karen Shepard, Luis Rodriguez, Maxine Kumin, Sherman Alexie, and Clifton Taulbert; as well as internationally renowned authors like Eavan Boland, Mirosalv Holub, and Welsh poets Menna Elfyn, Iwan Llwydd, and Nigel Jenkins. For the past eight years, WCU’s Visiting Writers Series, the English Department, Lectures, Concerts, and Exhibitions, and the Office of the Chancellor have sponsored the Spring Literary Festival. In addition, local organizations and businesses work closely with festival coordinators to secure community involvement, and WCU students have the opportunity to work with nationally and internationally acclaimed authors on their own writing.

04/30/2026

Save the dates for next year’s festival: April 5-8, 2027

04/15/2026
Still thinking about last week’s Spring Literary Festival, especially this trip to the community garden with Ross Gay, G...
04/13/2026

Still thinking about last week’s Spring Literary Festival, especially this trip to the community garden with Ross Gay, Gabrielle Calvocoressi, Joy Priest, and Aimee Nezhukumatathil

Last day of the festivaaaaaal!!Congrats to this year’s contest winners.
04/09/2026

Last day of the festivaaaaaal!!

Congrats to this year’s contest winners.

Tomorrow!
04/08/2026

Tomorrow!

TOMORROW at the Spring Literary Festival!
04/06/2026

TOMORROW at the Spring Literary Festival!

The SPRING LITERARY FESTIVAL starts tomorrow!!!!!
04/05/2026

The SPRING LITERARY FESTIVAL starts tomorrow!!!!!

Great coverage on the history (and future) of the Spring Literary Festival in this week’s Thanks, .fontaine !
04/02/2026

Great coverage on the history (and future) of the Spring Literary Festival in this week’s

Thanks, .fontaine !

03/30/2026
One Day for Western is finally here!! Please consider giving to the Spring Literary Festival to support future festivals...
04/03/2024

One Day for Western is finally here!! Please consider giving to the Spring Literary Festival to support future festivals!! Learn more about how you can support the LitFest at oneday.wcu.edu and share why you give on social media. As a special treat, please enjoy some words from past visiting writers!

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239 Memorial Drive , 305 Coulter Building
Cullowhee, NC
28723

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+18282273966

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