O, Miami — the organization that uses the transformative power of poetry to connect people, spark empathy, and foster a shared narrative — recently announced April’s month-long schedule for the annual O, Miami Poetry Festival.
With a dynamic lineup of events during National Poetry Month, O, Miami has elevated this year’s performances, installations and workshops to engage communities across South Florida.
“This April, we invite you to experience — and shape — O, Miami. Write a poem, join a workshop, or stumble upon poetry in unexpected places,” said Melody Santiago Cummings, O, Miami executive co-director. “Swap stories and clothing, get a tattoo with a new friend, or find poetry in the cosmos, the coral reefs, or a quilt. Honor the past, celebrate the present, and dream up the future with us. Whether you’re skateboarding, shucking oysters, mothering, or dancing through your grief, there’s a place for you here — come make the festival yours.”
This year, the city will find a fresh, new public art initiative – Soy de Todas Partes (I am of all places), a civic publishing project providing a deep-dive into multiculturalism and the modern immigrant experience via 100 student poems in public spaces. It’s not just art — it’s a year-long conversation starter — a way to provoke much-needed empathy and healing through the power of poetry. The initiative will unveil 100 installations by later this year, taking an acupuncture approach toward poetry as public art to celebrate the richness and vitality of Miami’s majority-minority community.
Soy de Todas Partes will come to life during the festival on Apr. 29 at Poetry in Service, a flavor-filled, cuisine-meets-poetry event at Recoveco. During this multi-course dinner, a large-scale installation will debut with its stirring words cast across the restaurant.
Additional Soy de Todas Partes public artworks will pop-up during the festival – to be announced in the coming days.
Additional standout events and happenings at the festival include:
UniVERSE Planetarium Show Debut at Frost nightLAB: On Apr. 2, the Frost Planetarium and O, Miami with Topos Graphics will team up to present UniVERSE, an original poetic short film exploring the land, sea, and skies of South Florida and beyond.
Poetry Readings: Curious event-goers can experience the extraordinary minds of poets like Rio Cortez on Apr. 4 and Morgan Parker on Apr. 26, literary powerhouses whose work challenges the boundaries of narrative and identity.
Poetry in Pajamas: A festival favorite, The Miami Beach Botanical Gardens will be the blooming backdrop for the next generation of literacy leaders on Apr. 5, presenting a pajama party of youth poets featuring readings from children and kid-operated vendors.
The Holy Office of Poetic Memory: On Apr. 13, this workshop will center around poetry for caregivers and loved ones of individuals with dementia and terminal illnesses.
Where Mangos Drop: O, Miami Variety Show presented by Miami Beach OnStage!: On Apr. 17, dance performances, skate demos and poetry come together under the stars at the Miami Beach Bandshell.
10 Years of Zip Odes: A decade of one of the most beloved community poetry projects across the U.S. will be celebrated on Apr. 23 as this event brings together the zip codes across Dade, Broward, West Palm and Monroe counties at one of the city’s most iconic locations, Vizcaya Museum & Gardens.
“At O, Miami, we’re of the strong belief that there are no wrong answers in poetry — that it’s a wild, vital and deeply inclusive means of self expression,” said Caroline Cabrera, artistic director of O, Miami. “Are you a sensitive goth? A stargazer? A caregiver? An irreverent domino aficionado? A conservationist? There’s a place for you in this festival”
O, Miami is more than just a month-long festival; it is a year-round cultural supernova that keeps the poetic fire burning with workshops, public art projects and mentorships — O, Miami is currently accepting applications online at https://omiami.org/pages/submit for its summer 2025 Greenhouse mentorship program. With a mission to spread poetry to every corner of the city (and beyond), the organization transforms everyday spaces into vibrant canvasses for creative expression. From storefronts to schools, and yes, even parking tickets – poetry is everywhere.
O, Miami invites local businesses, venues, and residents to get in on the action. One need not be a poet to be part of the fun — whether it be hosting a poem as public art, attending an event, or contributing a verse of your own, there is a place for all in the festival. The O, Miami Poetry Festival runs Apr. 1-30, and features over 40 events, performances, and interactive experiences. All events are open to the public.
To learn more or for a complete list of events, visit omiami.org.
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