OCALA, Fla. (Dec. 8, 2025) - The City of Ocala Cultural Arts Division, in partnership with the Marion County Public Library, will host the first Art Park Literary and Poetry Festival on Saturday, April 11, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Tuscawilla Art Park, 213 NE Fifth St.

The free community event is part of the Tuscawilla Art Park Series and will feature local and regional authors, literary and community vendors, hands-on activities, open mic poetry recitals, live music, food trucks and family-friendly workshops.

The City is now accepting vendor applications in the following categories:

• Literary vendors including independent publishers, small presses, bookstores, magazines, newspapers, authors, zine creators and comic creators
• Calligraphers, printmakers, illustrators and bookmakers
• Food trucks, nonprofit groups and arts organizations

Applications are available at https://www.ocalafl.gov/poetryfest. Completed applications may be submitted by email to [email protected] mailed to City of Ocala Cultural Arts, 201 SE Third St., Second Floor, Ocala, FL 34471.

Ocala Cultural Arts will also open a call for poets in January 2026. Selected poems will appear in the first edition of the Art Park Literary and Poetry Book.

For more information, contact the City of Ocala Cultural Arts Division at 352-629-8447 or [email protected], or visit https://www.ocalafl.gov/poetryfest.

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