Beacon Litfest Presents:
EVENTS
Jun 12 BLF Kickoff Performance and Party!
Start your literary experience with the ever-popular Beacon Litfest Kickoff Party! Performances by local writers and storytellers hosted by Drew Prochaska of Artichoke Storytelling Series, followed by food, drinks, and dancing—all at Denning’s Point Distillery.
The “3-day pass” BEACON LITFEST All Access Pass
Hello Lit Lover!
We are delighted to fill you in on this year's BEACON LITFEST, planned for Thurs, Fri, Sat, June 12-14, 2025! All at link below:
https://beaconlitfest.ticketspice.com/early-bird-three-day-pass-jun-121314-2025
The Beacon LitFest celebrates the literary arts by connecting the community of readers and writers in Beacon and the Hudson Valley with some of the most celebrated voices of our time. As always, we bring together a diverse group of outstanding poets, playwrights, fiction writers and nonfiction writers for readings, lively conversation, performances, and connection.
Thursday, June 12 features our ever-popular kickoff party and performance, at the wonderful Denning's Point Distillery. We are deep into developing a fun event with Drew Prochaska (Artichoke Storytelling) that will include local writers and performers. This promises to be a beautiful evening to socialize, be entertained, and enjoy bites and premium signature cocktails created by distillery owner Susan Johnson.
Our Friday, June 13th signature evening event, Women In Noir, will be held at the Howland Cultural Center. We will present an immersive multimedia program with readings by acclaimed bestselling crime and thriller fiction writers Margot Douaihy, Jode Millman, and Julia Dahl, in conversation with NY Writers Studio’s Cynthia Weiner, and TownSquare Media’s Jackie Corley. We will also hear from the winner of our BLF Crime-Writing Workshop!
Our Saturday, June 14 Main Event will feature multiple programs at various locations on Beacon’s Main St. Our schedule also allows time throughout the day to enjoy the beautiful views and the many charming shops, galleries and restaurants on Beacon's historic Main St.
The day will begin with Poetry at 10:30 am at the Beahive event space, courtesy of owner Scott Tillitt, where laudable poets Ruth Danon, John Yau, and Gregory Pardlo will read and discuss their works in conversation with Andrea Talarico (Stanza Books).
The Drama/Theater component will begin at 1:30pm at the Howland Cultural Center. It will feature founders and co-directors Vieve Radha Price and Chuk Obasi from the groundbreaking NYC-based company TEA Artistry, and will be produced and moderated by Shane Killoran (Hit House Creative).
Saturday will conclude with our Nonfiction and Fiction panels from 5pm to 7:30pm at Main St's stately VFW Memorial Hall. We are thrilled to announce that brilliant, award-winning authors Francine Prose, Kris Jansma, Matt Schultz, Stacey D'Erasmo, and Dinaw Mengestu will present and discuss their works. Beacon's own Caroline Eisner (Academic Consultant and Editor) and the ever-entertaining Brian Mahoney (Chronogram Editor-in-Chief) will guide the evening's discussion.
At 7:30pm, immediately following the day’s events, all attendees are invited to a book-signing reception and cocktail party at VFW Memorial Hall.
NB: Tickets Beacon LITWORKS: Writing Workshops Sun June 15 sold separately after Mar 15.)
Check beaconlitfest.org for more information and get your All Access Passes for the Litfest. This pass provides access for one person to ALL of Beacon LitFest events* (excluding Sunday’s Writing Workshops).
If you're making a weekend of it, your EarlyBird or All Access Pass also serves as a generous 100. discount voucher courtesy of Dutchess Inn and Spa, on Beacon’s picturesque Main St.
Books will be available for sale at most venues and at Stanza Books.
We look forward to welcoming you to Beacon!
Warmest Regards,
Jun 13 BLF introduces: WOMEN in NOIR
Discover three thrilling, award-winning Women in Noir! Prepare for an exciting, immersive Friday the 13th Noir experience with authors Julia Dahl, Jode Millman and Margot Douaihy! Moderated by writers Cynthia Weiner and Jackie Corley.
Jun 14 POETRY- Prize-winning panelists
Sat. June 14 begins 10:30am with POETRY! RUTH DANON, 2025 Dutchess Poet Laureate; JOHN YAU, 2018 winner of the Jackson Prize in Poetry among others; and GREGORY PARDLO, 2015 winner of the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry, will read and discuss their works in conversation with Andrea Talarico (Stanza Books).
Jun 14 Drama: Hit House Creative and BLF
The theater portion of The Beacon LitFest happens Sat Jun 14, 1:30pm at Howland Cultural Center. Join TEA Artistry Directors, Vieve Radha Price and Chuk Obasi and for a transformative conversation focused around the powerful process of 'Insight Artistry". Learn how dramatic pieces are conceived, adapted, and expressed, and how language is transformed from page to stage. Moderated by Shane Killoran, CEO of Hit House Creative. Get ready for something you've never seen before--Hit House never disappoints!
Jun 14 FICTION, NONFICTION and cocktail party
The spotlight is on Nonfiction and Fiction from 5pm to 7:30pm at Main St's stately VFW Memorial Hall. Joining us are brilliant, award-winning authors Francine Prose, Kris Jansma, Matt Schultz, Stacey D'Erasmo, and Dinaw Mengestu. Brian Mahoney (Chronogram) and Caroline Eisner (Academic Consultant) moderate. Followed by book-signing and cocktail party.
Jun 15 BEACON LITWORKS: Writing Workshops
BEACON LITWORKS: Writing Workshops. Professionally-led writing workshops in Beacon, NY. Build your voice. Create community. Get it on the page.
90’s Dance Party
Dance to 90’s favorites at Denning’s Point Distillery in support of Beacon Litfest 2025! Costume contest, inspired cocktails, dope prizes, photo booth and more!
Murder She Wrote: A Crime Writing Workshop
FUNDRAISER for Beacon LitFest
with special guest
CYNTHIA WEINER, The Writers Studio, NYC, author: ‘A Gorgeous Excitement’
Your ticket INCLUDES FOOD, BEVERAGES AND WRITING MATERIALS, and you're helping us raise funds for BLF2025!
THURS NOV 14 DOORS/FOOD- 6:30P PROGRAM- 7:00-9:00P
At The FACTORY HOTEL 147 Main St Beacon, NY
Learn how true crime stories are fictionalized and create your own in a professionally-led writing workshop.
https://beaconlitfest.ticketspice.com/murder-she-wrote-a-crime-writing-workshop
The evening will feature a presentation and workshop by Cynthia Weiner of The Writers Studio, NYC, and author of the forthcoming novel A Gorgeous Excitement (Penguin Random House 2025).
Weiner will share how she crafted her soon-to-be released novel around the infamous 'preppy murder.' She'll review the issues involved in fictionalizing true crime stories and guide a writing intensive where participants create their own pieces incorporating true crime case elements.
Choose from a selection of true crime story elements (or bring your own) and begin to craft your original, fictional piece.
N.B. Participants can revise and submit their piece for a chance to perform the opening slot at our Women in Noir program at BLF 2025!
Cynthia Weiner has had a long career writing and teaching fiction. Her short stories have been published in Ploughshares, The Sun, and Epiphany, and her story “Boyfriends” was awarded a Pushcart Prize. Recently, her story “A Castle In Outerspace” was republished in Coolest American Stories 2024. She is also the assistant director of The Writers Studio in New York City.
A Gorgeous Excitement, her first novel, was inspired by her upbringing on New York’s Upper East Side in the 1980s, and particularly by the infamous “Preppy Murder” of 1986, to which she had a personal connection, having spent many nights drinking with the real-life Preppy Killer and his friends at Dorrian’s (the model for Flanagan’s bar) that summer.
(A big Thank You to The FACTORY Hotel owner, Bethany Souza).