Calendar of Events

Poetry in the Garden - Richard Blanco and Sonia Guiñansaca

A Poetry Festival in the Heart of Ridgefield's Cultural District!

July 13, 2026 · 7 p.m.
Walled Garden
Free

Now in its sixth season, Poetry in the Garden welcomes poetry lovers and the culturally curious to a season of readings, music, and workshops. This year's theme is "Voices of the New Revolution": each Monday evening in July, nationally acclaimed poets will share works that stand defiant of oppression and injustice, opting instead for empowerment, creativity, and empathy. 

Poetry in the Garden readings are free for all to attend. Doors open at 6:30pm and readings begin at 7pm. Bring a lawn chair or blanket to enjoy the events, held in KTM&HC's historic walled garden. In the event of inclement weather, the readings move inside, to KTM&HC's Garden House. A book signing will follow. Books on the Common will be onsite to sell books for personalization.

July 13th features poets Richard Blanco and Sonia Guiñansaca.

Selected by President Obama as the fifth Presidential Inaugural Poet, Richard Blanco was not only the youngest person to serve in that role, but also the first Latinx, immigrant, and gay poet to do so. Blanco's many collections of poetry includes his most recent, Homeland of My Body. He has received the National Humanities Medal presented by President Biden, the Agnes Starrett Poetry Prize, the PEN American Beyond Margins Award, the Patterson Prize, and a Lambda Prize for memoir. Currently, Blanco serves as Education Ambassador for The Academy of American Poets. He served as the inaugural Poet Laureate of Miami-Dade County.

Sonia Guiñansaca (Kichwa-Kañari), an acclaimed poet and cultural activist, was born in Ecuador, raised in Harlem, and now resides in Los Angeles. Sonia co-edited the award-winning anthology Somewhere We Are Human: Authentic Voices On Migration, Survival, and New Beginnings, and their work helped build some of the largest undocumented organizations in the U.S., including artistic projects by and for undocumented artists. Sonia has performed at the Met, Lincoln Center, and the Nuyorican Poets Café and has been featured in Interview Magazine, Ms. Magazine, Teen Vogue, and on PBS. They speak internationally on migrant policy and arts equity.

Poetry in the Garden is generously supported by Ridgefield Library, The Fountain Inn, and Books on the Common, which will have poets' books available at the event.

» View the full calendar of events