Haiku Workshops are available for children and adults.
If your organization is interested in sponsoring a Poetry Workshop or you would like more info about Haiku Fest, please contact us at:
eMail: Info@HaikuFest.com
Mail: Haiku Fest
Post Office Box 450
Chicago, IL 60690
Phone: 312-253-7453
Haiku Fest is the brainchild of Regina Harris Baiocchi and was inspired by one of her mentors, the late Gwendolyn Brooks, Illinois Poet Laureate. Haiku Fest was founded by Regina in Chicago, IL. Haiku Fest presents poetry readings, workshops, competitions and awards programs.
Haiku Fest Awards Programs are juried, annual events for 8 to 14 year old poets. Each poet receives a Certificate of Achievement. Other commendations include cash awards, prizes and honorable mentions.
By participating in the Haiku Festival, participants grant Haiku Fest the right to print poems, poets’ names, ages, school name, city, and commendation details on the Haiku Fest web site, in advertisements, and other publications. Copyright is reverted to each poet once poems are published on the official Haiku Fest website and in its literature.
Regina Harris Baiocchi is a composer and author of Blues Haiku, Urban Haiku, and Indigo Sound.
Her music has been performed by internationally-acclaimed artists including Chicago and Detroit Symphony orchestras, and the US Army Band. One of Regina’s audio CDs, Kidstuff, includes original music she wrote for children. Regina began writing haiku at age 7.
Dear Haiku Festival:
I am so grateful for the opportunity you and your team provide through the Haiku Festival. The program was well organized and efficient with time. I just wanted to express my gratitude and the gratitude of the participating students at Lee Elementary.
Many students thought they could not do it. But as you saw, each tried his/her very best; and for that I am excited! This was an awesome experience not only for the kids but for me to see their creative juices flow. I visit Lee School twice a week and work with nine (9) classrooms teaching poetry. Please keep me posted of your activities! Thank you, thank you, thank you.
--Nannette Banks, Consultant
Poetry Center of Chicago
Dear Haiku Festival:
I am the grandmother of Joseph Szczech and knew nothing about Haiku poetry until I attended the 3rd Haiku Festival at the Sulzer Library. It was a wonderful experience for me. I wanted to raise my hand and ask about the word “haiku.” Instead I asked others after the Festival and this morning did a Google search and now I am writing my first Haiku poem called "Grandson."
Please explain the meaning of Haiku at the next Festival for those of us who have no knowledge of this type of poetry. Thank you for the Haiku Festival.
Sincerely,
Barbara Darby Hoff
Chicago, IL