Literary event takes to the streets of Collingwood in September

Wordstock — a ’celebration of the written word’ which splashed onto the local events calendar last September with a sold-out opening night gala and a day-long program that featured something for all ages — is coming back this September with a jam-packed schedule of poets, authors, and children’s entertainers.

On Friday night, committee members and volunteers were feted at a kick-off bash at the Empire Grill featuring blues songstress Erin McCallum.

As with last year, there is also a raft of workshops for aspiring writers, including a legacy writing workshop with local author Christine Cowley, and primers on self-publishing and making it as a writer.

For the teens, there are workshops on lettering and calligraphy, and creative writing.

Behind the scenes, last year’s eight-member organizing committee has swollen to a group of 26. Thirty-six sponsors have climbed on board, and there will be 20 events scattered around the downtown.

The response has reinforced committee chair Marg Scheben-Edey’s faith in the event, and inspired her to again take the reins of Wordstock for its second year.

«Because last year was so successful, and there was so much goodwill in the community, and the excitement and support, I felt like it was the right thing to do,» she said. «It’s taken a great deal of time, energy and commitment from volunteers».

Wordstock and its crew

Source: Wordstock Collingwood