Schedule Of Events:

January 8, 2025
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm - Galena LitFest: Poets in Dialogue

Join us at the Grape Escape for an evening of poetry and discussion presented by two regional Poet Laureates, Jenna Goldsmith of Rockford, IL and Galena’s very own, Ted Williams.
In a conversational style, Ted and Jenna will discuss their poetical journeys, making an impact with the written word, and read from their work.

This is an in-person program presented at the Grape Escape.
Jenna Goldsmith is a poet, writer, and teacher living in the Midwest. She is the author of 4 poetry chapbooks, including CRUSH, winner of the 2022 Baltic Writing Residency Chapbook Contest. Her writing has appeared in numerous publications, including South Carolina Review, New Delta Review, and Cleveland Review of Books. She is the Director of the Oregon State University Cascades Low-residency MFA Program in Writing, and is the City Poet Laureate of Rockford, IL where she resides.

Ted Williams has been a writer, producer, director, and performer for over twenty years. He blends heart, mystery, history, and humor in all his endeavors whether he’s writing a poem or song, taking folks on a ghost tour, producing a play, or starting a new venture. In 2024 he was appointed the City of Galena’s first Poet Laureate. He shares a loving life in Galena with his wife Robyn and his goldendoodle Winn Dixie.

Location: MIss Kitty’s Grape Escape
242 N. Main St. Galena, IL 61036

Click here to register

January 11, 2025

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm - Galena LitFest: Midwest Bedrock

Dr. Kevin Koch will take participants on a photographic journey through natural spaces across each of the twelve Midwestern states, including short excerpts from his newest book, Midwest Bedrock: The Search for Nature’s Soul in America’s Heartland (Indiana University Press, 2024). Koch’s writing style blends narrative and informative techniques to invoke Sense of Place.

Dr. Kevin Koch is Professor Emeritus of English from Loras College in Dubuque, IA. He is author of four nature-based books blending personal narrative and informational writing to explore a Sense of Place. His books are: Midwest Bedrock (2024); The Thin Places (2016); The Driftless Land (2010), and Skiing at Midnight (2002). At Loras College he taught courses on Nature Writing, the Mississippi River, the Midwest Landscape, the Driftless Area, and more.

Galena LitFest 2025 is the eleventh annual literary festival organized and funded by the Galena Public Library with support from the Friends of the Galena Public Library and in partnership with the Galena Center for the Arts, Miss Kitty’s Grape Escape, and Hawk Valley Retreat & Cottages. Events will take place throughout January in-person and virtually.

Location: Galena Center for the Arts
971 Gear St. Galena, IL 61036

Click here to register

January 25, 2025

6:00 pm - 8:30 pm - Galena LitFest: A Night in Tita Rosie’s Kitchen

Join bestselling mystery author Mia P. Manansala for a curated dinner featuring Filipino recipes from the Tita Rosie Kitchen Mysteries book series to learn about her journey as an author and the cultural importance of food in the Filipino diaspora.
A full dinner will be served including beverages, plated appetizers, buffet-style entrees and sides, and a plated dessert. Manansala will be present with guests before and after the program is presented. Galena Book & Paper will be on-site with books for purchase and signing.
Manansala is the author of the mulit-award-winning Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery Series. She uses humor (and murder) to explore aspects of the Filipino diaspora, queerness, and her millennial love for pop culture.She will be joined in conversation by Galena local Charissa McAuliff.
Cost: Tickets are $65 per person

Location: Hawk Valley Retreat & Cottages
2752 West Cording Road, Galena, IL 61036

Click here to register

Date: January 8 - January 25, 2025

Location: Various Venues in Galena, IL 61036

Click here for more information