The Beacon LitFest is back, ready to turn the charming riverside city into a literary haven from June 12-14, 2025. A three-day celebration of the written word taking place at venues throughout Beacon, the festival will once again bring together an eclectic mix of poets, novelists, playwrights, and nonfiction powerhouses for a lively program of readings, performances, and conversations at mthat promise to be as thought-provoking as they are entertaining.
Beacon LitFest is an independent arts organization headed by Hannah Brooks and Andrea Talarico with support from Shane Killoran and Mark Harris.
The festivities kick off on Thursday, June 12, with the ever-popular opening party at Denning’s Point Distillery. Expect a night of spirited storytelling (both on the mic and in the glass), as Drew Prochaska of Artichoke Storytelling curates an evening of performances featuring local writers and entertainers. Distillery owner Susan Johnson will be slinging signature cocktails to keep the creative juices flowing.
Friday night, June 13, takes a darker turn with Women In Noir at the Howland Cultural Center. Crime fiction devotees will be treated to readings and discussion with bestselling authors Margot Douaihy, Jode Millman, and Julia Dahl. NY Writers Studio’s Cynthia Weiner and TownSquare Media’s Jackie Corley will guide the conversation, and a special spotlight will shine on the winner of the festival’s Crime-Writing Workshop. Noir fans, take note: this one’s bound to be killer.
Saturday, June 14, is the festival’s main event, stretching across multiple venues on Beacon’s historic Main Street. The morning kicks off with poetry at Beahive, where acclaimed poets Ruth Danon, John Yau, and Gregory Pardlo will share their work in conversation with Andrea Talarico of Stanza Books. The afternoon turns theatrical at the Howland Cultural Center, where TEA Artistry founders Vieve Radha Price and Chuk Obasi will present a dynamic program of drama and performance, produced and moderated by Shane Killoran of Hit House Creative.
The evening’s grand finale unfolds at the VFW Memorial Hall with a star-studded lineup of fiction and nonfiction luminaries. Literary heavyweights Francine Prose, Kris Jansma, Matt Schultz, Stacey D’Erasmo, and Dinaw Mengestu will take the stage for an insightful discussion moderated by Caroline Eisner and none other than Chronogram’s own editor, Brian K. Mahoney. A book-signing reception and cocktail party will follow, because no good conversation should end without a celebratory toast.
Sunday, June 15, rounds out the weekend with intimate, two-hour writing workshops led by instructors across various genres. Space is limited, and tickets for these will go fast when they go on sale March 14.
Early Bird Passes are available through March 14 for $100, granting access to all events except the Sunday workshops. Grab your tickets at Beaconlitfest.org and plan your literary weekend accordingly—because stories like these are best experienced in person. For questions, email beaconlitfest@gmail.com.
VFW Memorial Hall Beacon
413 Main Street, Beacon, NY
8458312585
This article appears in February 2025.
