Spring 2026 Conference Schedule

Date: Friday-Sunday, May 1-3, 2026
Place: Stone Harbor Resort & Conference Center, Sturgeon Bay
Keynote: Michael Torres, Poet
Theme: Poetry of Belonging


Please join us for next year’s poetry conference in beautiful Door County, Friday-Sunday, May 1-3, 2026.

Register for Conference

Friday, May 1

Check-in at the hotel: 4 p.m.

  • 4-4:45 p.m. Check-In/Fellowship/Set-up for Book Fair

  • 5-6:30 p.m. Dinner on Your Own - Sturgeon Bay Area Dinner Options

  • 6:45-8:15 p.m. Celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Wisconsin Poets Laureate program with a reading by current and former poets laureate, including Kimberly Blaeser, Brenda Cárdenas, Bruce Dethlefsen, Max Garland, Margaret Rozga, and Dasha Kelly Hamilton.

  • 8:30-10 p.m. Share your poetry during open mic (moderated by Carol Lee)

Saturday, May 2

  • 8 a.m. Check-In/Breakfast/Fellowship/Set-up for Book Fair

  • 8:30-9:30 a.m. (During Breakfast): Get updates from Wisconsin Fellowship leadership during a brief business meeting

    ** 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Novel Bay Books available for keynote and poets laureate book sales. **

  • 9:30-9:50 a.m. Rollcall

    During rollcall, we invite first-time conference attendees to share a short poem to introduce themselves. More time is scheduled Sunday morning, if needed. Longer poems can be shared at open mic on Friday.

  • 10-11:30 a.m. Take part in a HEADLINER WORKSHOP with Michael Torres: Poetry of Belonging

  • 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Enjoy lunch

  • 1-1:45 p.m. Travel to Write On Door County

  • If weather permits, get inspired at the Writing Center at Write On Door County with mini-workshops. (Alternatively, you may self-direct your afternoon with an ekphrasis tour/workshop of Sturgeon Bay’s public art.)

    •  2-2:45 p.m. Breakout 1

    •  3-3:45 p.m. Breakout 2

      Choose 2 of 3:

      • Belonging in Nature with the Writer’s Walk

        A self-guided walk with writing prompts. Amble three connected hiking loops with carved cedar benches that hide meditation words.

      • Art Speaks with Carrie and Peter Sherrill, Poets Laureate of Door County

        A writing lab that encourages people to write in response to visual art. Led by Door County Poets Laureate Carrie and Peter Sherrill, this writing activity is perfect for both beginning and advanced writers in any genre. Highlighting the distinctive art on display.

      • The Practice of Spontaneous Poetics with Albert DeGenova

        Held in Norbert Blei’s famed “coop” where he worked and was inspired to write numerous books, Blei student and co-teacher Albert DeGenova will explore the Practice of Spontaneous Poetics. Blei was a student of the Beats and Jazz and taught poetry from that perspective. This workshop will discuss the concept of Spontaneous Poetics (and Bop Prosody) as a way to write poetry as a jazz musician creates a musical improvisation, a “practice” more akin to Zen meditation than to traditional prosody.

        **If weather is inclement, the breakout schedule will be adjusted and announced at the conference.

  • 4-4:30 p.m. Tour of Residency

  • 4:45-5:30 p.m. Travel back to Stone Harbor

  • 5:30-7 p.m. Dinner on Your Own - Sturgeon Bay Area Dinner Options

  • 7-15-8:15 p.m. Don’t miss the HEADLINER READING by Michael Torres: Poetry of Belonging 

  • 8:15-8:45 p.m. Get a book signed by Michael Torres

Sunday, May 3

  • 8 a.m. Breakfast/Fellowship/Book Fair/Goodie Bags

  • 9 a.m. Rollcall, Part 2, if needed

  • 9:30-10:45 a.m. WFOP Prize Winner Awards & Reading

    • Muse Prize 1st, 2nd & 3rd Placeholders, if attending

    • Kay Saunders Emerging Poet Prize 1st, 2nd & 3rd Placeholders, if attending

    • Chapbook 1st, 2nd & 3rd Placeholders, if attending

    • Dyad Contest 1st, 2nd & 3rd Placeholders for Poet’s Choice & Theme, if attending

  • Swanson Emerging Poet Fellow - Rose Menyon Heflin

  • Close/Fellowship/Departure

Check out from hotel: 11 a.m.

Presenters

Book Your Hotel Room

Conference Hotel:
Stone Harbor Resort & Conference Center, 107 North First Ave, Sturgeon Bay

Rooms available Friday and Saturday at $189. Call (920) 746-0700 to book and ask for the “WI Fellowship of Poets” room block.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Thank you to our sponsors and their support of the conference and the power of poetry.

 

Would You Like to Sponsor the Conference?

We have a level appropriate for every business, organization, or individual.

Sponsorship is an excellent way to show your support for our mission and partner with us to advocate for poetry and poets across Wisconsin. Help us promote poetry. You can find out more about WFOP's mission, partnerships, and outreach here. If you would like to learn more, please contact Tori Grant Welhouse, Regional VP, at torigrantwelhouse@gmail.com or 920-378-0310.