Underground Lit Fest Brings National Poets to Toledo – November 7 & 8, 2025
Toledo, OH – On November 7 and 8, Toledo will host the Underground Lit Fest, a two-day celebration of independent literature and poetry featuring writers from across the country alongside Toledo’s own literary voices. Events will take place at The Attic on Adams (1701 Adams Street) and Culture Clash Records (912 Monroe Street).
The festival begins Friday, November 7 with Welcome to Toledo, a community kickoff reading hosted by local poet and 2024 “Best Writer in Toledo” winner Dan Denton. The evening includes an open mic and runs from 6–9 p.m. at The Attic on Adams, setting the stage for a weekend of words and connection. Featured readers are Lucas County Poet Laureate Jonie McIntire, Sandra Rivers-Gill, Pella Felton, Huntor Prey and W. Joe Hoppe.
On Saturday, November 8, the festival continues at Culture Clash Records with a Book Fair from Noon to 2 p.m., featuring tables from The Literary Underground, Swell Magazine and others. Festival-goers can also enjoy food from Baba’s Eats, a local food truck serving up delicious eats on site from Noon to 7 p.m.
From 2–7 p.m., the festival culminates in a featured reading hosted by Pella Felton featuring 26 poets from 15 states, including Louisiana, Kentucky, Ohio, New York, Alabama, Michigan, Mississippi, Texas, Washington, California, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Colorado, and Indiana. Notable Toledo voices such as Bob Phillips and Kerry Trautman will be joined by nationally celebrated poets: Bree, Miles Budimir, Todd Cirillo, Juliet Cook, A.S. Coomer, Dan Denton, Aleathia Drehmer, Steve Goldberg, Westley Heine, Lori Jakiela, Karl Koweski, Jen McConnell, Michele McDannold, Shawn Misener, Tim Murray, Dave Newman, Josh Olsen, Misti Rainwater-Lites, Lindsey Rankin, Danny Shot, Ryan Snellman, William Taylor Jr., Richard Vargas and special musical guest Patrick McGee.
This year’s Underground Lit Fest will also celebrate the release of Brian Fugett: poems, the posthumous poetry collection by Brian Fugett, founding editor of Zygote in my Coffee, and a beloved voice in the indie lit community. In his honor, the winner of the inaugural Brian Fugett Memorial Prize for a poetry chapbook will be announced at the beginning of Saturday’s program.
The Underground Lit Fest highlights the spirit of independent literature, grassroots publishing, and the vibrant connections between writers and readers across the country. All information, including performer bios, is posted on our website at theliteraryunderground.org/litfest.
Event Details:
- Welcome to Toledo – Friday, Nov. 7, 6–9 p.m. @ The Attic on Adams
- Book Fair – Saturday, Nov. 8, Noon–2 p.m. @ Culture Clash Records
- Featured Reading – Saturday, Nov. 8, 2–7 p.m. @ Culture Clash Records
- Food – Baba’s Eats, Noon–7 p.m. on site
For more information, please contact:
Michele McDannold, The Literary Underground
michelemcdannold@gmail.com
