Contact: Meg Smith, festival organizer, 978-996-6592

megsmithwriter675@gmail.com

Poe in Lowell festival to honor Edgar Allan Poe’s visits to Lowell

 Lowell, Massachusetts – A new festival will celebrate Edgar Allan Poe’s three visits to Lowell, with art exhibits, spoken word readings of poetry and short stories by Poe, dance performances inspired by Poe’s work, a screening of the Roger Corman film, “The Raven,”  and more.

 Poe in Lowell is set for Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 19 and 20, with events taking place at several venues in downtown Lowell.

 “Poe visited Lowell three times, in 1848 and 1849,” said organizer Meg Smith, a writer, journalist, dancer and events producer in Lowell, who also serves on the committee of the Lowell Celebrates Kerouac!, a Poe in Lowell partner. “Poe in Lowell will celebrate Poe’s visits as part of the city’s history and literary heritage.”

 Smith added, “Much like Jack Kerouac, who was born in Lowell, Poe’s writing represented something innovative, challenging and exciting. Like Kerouac, Poe is loved and remembered today because his life and writings speak to so many people. He is best known as a writer of horror, but so many themes run through his work, including love, loss, mystery, and discovery.”

 Festival highlights include:

– A Poe Pop Up Shop, featuring local authors and vendors of spooky and gothic offerings

– “A Dream Within A Dream” soiree and artist’s reception, held in concert with Gallery Z, and featuring guest musician Amy Beauregard and model and cosplayer, The Blood Witch

Roger Corman’s “The Raven,” at Luna Theater, with a 2 p.m. showing emceed by horror movie hostess, Penny Dreadful

– “The Edgar Allan Poe Show,” an evening of readings of Poe’s work by area poets, with special musical guest Todd Brunel; followed by performances by local Oriental and fusion dance artists, inspired by Poe’s short stories and poetry

 In addition to the two-day festival, Poe in Lowell is sponsoring “Echoes of Poe,” an exhibit of poetry and art by Lowell High School students, running through October at Lowell Telecommunications, with a reception set for Friday, Oct. 18, 1 to 3 p.m.

 A complete schedule of festival events can be found here, at linktr.ee/poeinlowell

 Poe in Lowell is supported by a grant from Mosaic Lowell, as well as by local businesses and individual supporters.

 Why did Poe visit Lowell? This article from the UMass Lowell library explains.