Vallejo is home to an active poetry scene. Vallejo’s current Poets Laureate are Jacalyn Eyvonne and Kathleen Herrmann, both serving from January 2024 through December 2025. Vallejo has had three previous poets laureate, serving as the official poet for the city: Dr. Genea Brice (2015-2017), D.L. Lang (2017-2019), and Jeremy Snyder (2020-2023). The program is sponsored by the Vallejo Community Arts Foundation.
The longest running open mic in Vallejo is Poetry by the Bay, founded in 2008 by Kyrah Ayers, who hosted the program for ten years. It meets on the 4th Wednesday of the month at 7 PM at the Mira Theater at 51 Daniels Street, and is hosted by Keith Thompson. Historically, it met at the Panama Red coffee shop on the waterfront, the Hub in downtown Vallejo, and the Oddfellows Hall, and meeting via Zoom during the pandemic. Poetry by the Bay was hosted by Jeremy Snyder from 2018 through 2022, and Kyrah Ayers from 2008 to 2018. Website
Since 2018 Vallejo’s community radio station, KZCT 89.5 FM, hosts the Art Beat Poetry Hour which airs at 10:30 AM on Thursdays. On the 2nd Thursday of the month Literary Dialogues with Nina Serrano is broadcast, featuring interviews with poets. On the 4th Thursday of the month poets are invited into the studio to perform live on the air. Website.
In April 2023, local poet Remo began hosting the Speak Easy Expressions open mic at Chris’ Club at 656 Benicia Road. It is a 21+ poetry open mic that meets every other Monday night at 7:00 PM.
Poetry in Notion will return in 2024, meeting on the 2nd Saturday from 12 to 2 PM at the John F. Kennedy branch of the Solano Library at 505 Santa Clara Street. The poetry circle is hosted by Vallejo’s Poets Laureate.
Vallejo is home to the Vallejo Poetry Society, founded in 2018 by Erika Snyder, Daniel Badiali and D.L. Lang. The Vallejo Poetry Society shares publication and performance opportunities with the local poetry community. Website.
The John F. Kennedy branch of the Solano County Library hosts a Poetry Month celebration every year in April, featuring performances and an open mic. They are home to the read around group Poetry in Notion which was founded by Dr. Genea Brice. They also host an annual teen writing competition. Website.
Alibi Bookshop sells books by many local authors, hosts poetry readings, and co-sponsored a Beat poetry festival in 2022 and the Vallejo Poetry Festival in 2023. Website
The Solano County Fair, held every summer in Vallejo, has an annual poetry contest, and occasionally features spoken word performers in its entertainment lineup. Website
The Solano County Arts Council has sponsored the Poetry Out Loud competition in the past, giving high school students the opportunity to compete in recitation of famous poems. Website
