A Walk with Poetry - SEEK Raleigh Project
Immersive poetry event at Shelley Lake Park featuring Raleigh-based poets and award-winning headliner Dasan Ahanu on April 11, 2026.
A Walk with Poetry is an immersive, community-centered arts experience created in celebration of National Poetry Month, designed to highlight and uplift Raleigh's vibrant poetry community. Taking place on April 11, 2026, from 12pm to 5pm at Shelley Lake Park, the event invites attendees to slow down, reflect, and reconnect through spoken word poetry in a natural outdoor setting.
The experience features a thoughtfully curated walking route where participants move through the park while encountering live poetry performances at designated stops, transforming the landscape into a living gallery of voices, stories, and expression. The event intentionally centers Raleigh-based poets, showcasing the city's rich diversity of voices across age, background, and artistic style, and offering a platform for both emerging and established artists.
Throughout the day, guests will engage with stationed poets along the walk, as well as featured performers located at the Pecan Grove near the trail entrance. The program culminates in a powerful headlining performance by Dasan Ahanu, an award-winning poet, playwright, cultural organizer, and scholar. Attendees can participate in guided poetry walks or enjoy main stage performances at the trailhead.
Guided Poetry Walk Schedule:
Group 1: 12:30pm – 2pm
Group 2: 1pm – 2:30pm
Group 3: 1:30pm – 3pm
Group 4: 2pm – 3:30pm
Main Stage Performances in the Pecan Grove: 2:30pm – 4:30pm
Free tickets for guided walks are available on EventBrite. No tickets needed for main stage performances. Bring your own camping chair or blanket.