The Peru Gazette

Robin Wall Kimmerer, Plant Ecologist, Educator, and Writer, 2022 MacArthur Fellow, Syracuse, NY

SARANAC LAKE, NY — The Adirondack Center for Writing will host the third biennial Writers Festival on Friday, June 5, and Saturday, June 6, in Saranac Lake.  Featuring writers, poets, comedians and other creatives from across the country, the festival is a celebration of how writing and storytelling — in all of their forms — are essential to art, entertainment and social change. The festival includes readings, writing workshops, manuscript consultations, publishing panels, special performances, a book fair, a stand-up comedy show and more.

“We’re bringing writers from all over the country to Saranac Lake,” said executive director Nathalie Thill. “Ask any of the hundreds of people who joined us for the Kickass Writers Festival in 2024, this weekend is a chance for everyone — from our special guests, to local authors, to writers-to-be just dipping their toes in for the first time — to grow and learn from one another. This year our faculty is stacked with nationally acclaimed writers like Kevin Wilson and Robin Wall Kimmerer and local legends like Dave Fadden, Curt Stager, Steve Stern, and Matt Witten. It’s a powerful thing to be a part of and we hope anyone who loves to write, read or laugh will join us for another kick-ass weekend.”

The two-day festival begins Friday, June 5, at 7 p.m. at the new Pendragon Theatre with the kickoff featuring readings by nationally acclaimed fiction author Kevin Wilson as well as writer, playwright, organizer and educator, Mahogany L. Browne. Stay after the readings for a book signing with both authors. This event is free and open to the public and is generously sponsored by The Devlin.

Saturday, June 6, will begin with a flora identification walk, led in partnership with the Adirondack Mountain Club. Events throughout the day include attendee “speed dating”—a quick, fun and non-romantic way for fellow writers to meet one another—as well as writing workshops, a book fair featuring dozens of local and regional authors and presses, manuscript consultations, publishing panels, a drop-in beginners writing workshop and a regional author showcase.

The festival will conclude Saturday evening with two special events. Robin Wall Kimmerer, well known for her beloved book, Braiding Sweetgrass, will provide the keynote at 5:30 p.m at the Harrietstown Town Hall. Blending her expertise as a botanist with her heritage as a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Kimmerer bridges the gap between science and spirit to reimagine our connection to nature. At 8 p.m., LA based stand-up comedian Milan Patel known for his sharp wit and infectious energy will close out the festival with the help of local comedic storyteller Joe Conto who will open for Patel. The comedy show will be held at the Pendragon Theater.

The kickoff reading, book fair, regional author showcase and drop-in workshop are free and open to the public. Those who register at the Paperback level will gain access to the flora identification walk, speed-dating, publishing panels, comedy show and keynote reading. The Hardcover and Rare Book levels are sold out. Individual tickets are also available. The keynote with Kimmerer is $25; the stand-up show is $10. View the full event schedule and line-up, register for the festival and purchase individual tickets at adirondackcenterforwriting.org/register-kickass.

Along with The Devlin, the 2026 Kickass Writers Festival is sponsored by the New York Council on the Arts, Cape Air, the Dyott Family, Always Franklin, North Country Community College, Hotel Saranac, Adirondack Health, Long Run Wealth Advisors, The Wild Center, Adirondack Diversity Initiative, Ameriprise Financial, Pam Palumbo and Betsey Hall, Adirondack Community Foundation, Snowfort Books, Stewart’s Shops, Coldwell Banker Whitbeck, NCPR, Saranac Lake Artworks, Rivertrail Beerworks, Origin Coffee Co., Pendragon Theatre and the Saranac Lake Free Library. To become a sponsor of this year’s festival, visit adirondackcenterforwriting.org/kickass-sponsor.

The Adirondack Center for Writing has been bringing people and words together for over 25 years through provocative events and meaningful programs. For more information about ACW, visit adirondackcenterforwriting.org or follow @adkctr4writing on Facebook and Instagram.