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Welcome to our 2013 Literary Festival!

To View All 100+ Events, click here.

• For info on Writing Workshops, click here.
• For info on the Saturday April 13 Book Fair & Stage Performances at Libbey Bowl, click here.
• For info on our 2013 “Local Literary Legend” honoree, J. Krishnamurti, click here.
• To browse through list for FREE events, click here.

Key Events by Day:

Saturday 4/6: FESTIVAL KICK OFF with JASON WOMACK’s amazing publishing story  & Writing Workshop (+ other writing workshops: Travel Writing and more), Tea & Poetry at BookEnds, Library Reads, Yoga & Journaling in the Dome + our annual  Evening Marquee Event: Late Night Spoken Word Slam, Festival Kick Off Party at Bart’s Books

Sunday 4/7: SOUL SUNDAY – from Krotona to Krishnamurti’s Pine Cottage to Symphony of Life Spiritual Center to Soul Centered to performances by Thomas Aquinas College (at Libbey Bowl) to participation by Meher Mount, World University, Meditation Mount and more! Evening Marquee Event: the hilarious “Ministers of Improv” comedy team  at Soul Centered Metaphysical Shoppe & Dome

Monday 4/8: LITERARY ARTS of OJAI - special events all day and evening including launch of Krishnamurti Exhibit at Chaparral Auditorium. Evening Marquee Event: Art Center’s Literary Branch Event “WordFest Literary Potpourri: Five Writers, Five Works in Progress”

Tuesday 4/9: SPA-TACULAR DAY OF WRITING downtown at The Oaks Spa (advance reservations required) and Evening Marquee Event: a performance of “Writings of J. Krishnamurti”

Wednesday 4/10: Workshops by Kim Maxwell (founder of Theater 150 and Ojai Playwrights Conference.) Evening Marquee Event: “Poetry Night” at Chaparral Auditorium

Thursday 4/11:  We start the day in our “Secret Garden” Creative Writing Workshop and end it with our Evening Marque Event: SWAMI BEYONDANANADA “the Mark Twain of our generation!” at Ojai’s Vinyl Dome Cathedral 

Friday 4/12: FOODIE FRIDAY – For lit-lovers and foodies alike! From a “How to Write a Cookbook” workshop to a luncheon of “Haiku & Sushi” to “Shangri la la la: the Music & Dinner Buffet” to late night “Open Heart, Open Mic” at The Deer Lodge (hosted by the punk band WeGovernWe). 

Saturday 4/13: “A CELEBRATION OF WORDS” at LIBBEY BOWL - Writerly events, author readings, stage performances and a huge Book Fair on the lawn (10am-5pm) + Writing Workshops with DARA MARKS & DEB NORTON “Engaging The Feminine Heroic“; Viki King’s classic book and course “How to Write a Movie in 21 Days” and other writing workshops… and our FESTIVAL FINALE – “The Enlightened Heart” an Anthology of Sacred Poetry by Ojai author/editor Stephen Mitchell. Two performances: 6pm at Chaparral and 8pm at Soul Centered, $10

Sunday 4/14 – “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” AFTER PARTY. Originally eight days, WordFest has added a ninth day to celebrate the culmination of our literary festival. | From Noon – 4 p.m. the community is invited to a free picnic hosted by Sequoia Hamilton (co-founder of Ojai WordFest and its 2013 director) at Meher Mount, a universal spiritual center in upper Ojai dedicated to Avatar Meher Baba who often spoke of happiness. (One of Meher Baba’s most famous quotes —from which Bobby McFerrin took his song—is: “Don’t worry. Be Happy.”) Enjoy being outdoors on the 172-acre Sulphur Mountain property with panoramic views of mountains and ocean. Please RSVP online using this link.

Overview

Ojai WordFest is a festival of words, ideas and stories unfolding in one of the most beautiful settings in California: the majestic Ojai Valley. The  literary nexus encourages readers and writers of all genres, skill level, and ages to partake in an extravaganza of individually-hosted events in and around Ojai Valley.

Our Mission

To introduce Ojai to the world as a literary destination; To nurture aspiring writers as well as inspire seasoned authors to further develop their craft; and To celebrate the wealth of literary talent in the Ojai area.

Who Should Attend?

Anyone who loves reading and/or writing—or anything with words!