Kerouac Literary Festival Today

September 30, 2010 by PaulM Posted in Culture, History, Lowell 2 Comments

Kerouac Literary Festival, Thursday, Sept. 30, 2010

3.30 pm, Listen to novelist and physicist Alan Lightman (“Einstein’s Dreams”) read from his new work. Alumni Hall, UMass Lowell, North Campus, One University Ave. Free and open to the public.

4.00 pm, See “Lowell Blues,” Henry Ferrini’s poetic film based on Kerouac’s novel “Doctor Sax” (the one about the 1936 Flood and the Grotto behind the Franco American School). Lowell Nat’l Historical Park Visitor Center,  246 Market St., downtown Lowell. Free and open to the public.

5.00-7.00 pm, Join Mike Wurm for a pub crawl downtown and bring your Kerouac book(s) to read from if you want. Walkers/crawlers meet at Old Worthen Tavern, 141 Worthen St., downtown Lowell (close to City Hall if you are coming from out of town). Free and open to the public (under-21 walkers allowed but legal restrictions apply inside establishments).

7.00 pm, Hear acclaimed author Russell Banks (“Continental Drift,” “The Reserve”) share his thoughts about Kerouac and read from his own fiction. There’s a book-signing after the talk and audience questions. UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center,  Junior Ballroom upstairs, 50 Warren St., downtown Lowell. $10 admission fee for the public. Free for students and seniors.

For the full weekend schedule of the JKLFestival, visit www.lowellcelebrateskerouac.org or www.uml.edu/artsandideas

2 Responses to Kerouac Literary Festival Today

  1. joe from Lowell says:

    I first read the title as “Kerouac Literacy Festival,” and thought, “Wow, that’s a really bad way to teach kids how to read.”

  2. Suzz Cromwell says:

    It’s Kerouac Weekend here in Lowell and the Lowell Film Collaborative’s Suzz Cromwell also wishes to pay homage. I hope readers enjoy this wonderful snippet of our own Roger Brunelle, expounding beautifully (and unscripted) on the Lowell flood of 1936 and how it inspired Kerouac to write “Dr. Sax.” I can’t tell you how great it was to catch Roger in one of his amazing “Kerouac moments.” Feel free to share this video, and thank Roger next time you see him. Visit http://www.lowellfilmcollaborative.org or Google “Roger Brunelle Merrimack River.” Enjoy the weekend, everyone!