Chicharra Poetry Slam Festival: 4-Day Calendar 

All events are free, except the Champions Stage on Saturday, March 21 (tickets $25)  

Day 1: Early Bird Events (Wednesday, March 18) - If you are local or in town early

• 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM |The Sound of Cicadas Reading & Roundtable
  • Albuquerque Museum, 2000 Mountain Rd NW
  • Featuring Arizona Poet Laureate Laura Tohe, Albuquerque Poet Laureate Emerita Michelle Otero, NM State Poet Laureate Emeritus Levi Romero and El'Ja Bowens. 

• 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Early Bird Open Mic
  • Red Door Brewing, 509 Central Ave SW

Day 2: (Thursday, March 19)

• 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM | Poet Orientation (competing poets & volunteers) 
  • Explora Science Center, 1701 Mountain Rd NW

• 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Preliminary Bouts 1-3 (Teams)  
  • Albuquerque Museum, 2000 Mountain Rd NW (Bouts 1 & 3) 
  • Outpost 1706, 301 Romero St NW Suite 205

• 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Preliminary Bouts 4-6 (Indies) 
  • Albuquerque Museum, 2000 Mountain Rd NW (Bouts 4 & 6) 
  • Outpost 1706, 301 Romero St NW Suite 205

• 10:30 PM – 11:30 PM | Gigi Bella: Big Feelings
  • The Mothership Alumni, 105 4th St SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

• 10:30 PM - Late Night Movie Screening : The Beast Within
  • The Guild Cinema, 3405 Central Ave NE

Day 3: (Friday, March 20)

         10:00 AM – 2:15 PM | Workshops - Explora Science Center, 1701 Mountain Rd NW

• Michael Jasso – “What Teachers Make” (10 am) 
• LadyK - Slam Strategies & Taking Your Slam Career to the Next Level  (11:30 am)
• Brennan DeFrisco –“New Shit: Freestyle Poetry & the Infinite Rough Draft” (1 pm)

• 10:00 AM – 2:15 PM | Open Mics - Explora Science Center, 1701 Mountain Rd NW
  • Visible/Invisible Disabilities Open Mic - Hosted by Sam Brown  (10 am)
  • LGBTQ+ Open Mic - Hosted by Emily Tucker (11:30 am)
  • Trans & Non-Binary Open Mic – Hosted by Skyelyn Riggs-Davis (1 pm)

• 2:30 PM – 04:00 PM | Haiku Head-to-Head 
  • Secret Gallery, 717 Central Ave NW

• 6:00 PM – 08:00 PM | Preliminary Bouts 7 – 9 (Indies) 
  • Outpost 1706, 301 Romero St NW Suite 205
  • Church Street Café, 2111 Church St NW
  • The Taproom, 524 Romero St NW

• 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Preliminary Bouts 10-12 (Teams)
  • Outpost 1706, 301 Romero St NW Suite 205
  • Church Street Café, 2111 Church St NW
  • The Taproom, 524 Romero St NW

• 10:30 PM – Whenever| Speaking of Sex Erotica Open Mic & Burlesque 
  • Albuquerque Social Club, 4021 Central Ave NE  (21+ only)
     

Day 4: (Saturday, March 21)

• 10:00 AM – 2:15 PM | Book Market - Explora Science Center, 1701 Mountain Rd NW
  • Explora Science Center, 1701 Mountain Rd NW

• 10:00 AM – 2:15 PM | Workshops - Explora Science Center, 1701 Mountain Rd NW
  • Chelsea Guevara - "Retracing Our Steps" (10 am)
  • Anthony Azzarito – “Poetry Heals” (11:30 am)
  • Working Classroom - "Zine About It" (1:00 pm)

• 10:00 AM – 2:15 PM | Open Mics - Explora Science Center, 1701 Mountain Rd NW
  • Veteran's Open Mic - Host Daniel Garwood (10 am)
  • Lengua Viva – A Latinx / Chicanx / Indigenous Open Mic - Hosted by Michael Jasso (11:30 am)
  • Black Poets Open Mic - Hosted by LadyK  (1 pm)

• 2:30 PM – 04:30 PM | Nerd Slam  
  • Secret Gallery, 717 Central Ave NW

• 07:00 PM – 10:00 PM |Champions Stage (Finals) 
  • Historic Lobo Theater, 3013 Central Ave NE

• 10:30 PM – 12:30 PM | Underground Slam  
  • Will be shared with poets

Voices Rising Youth Events 

        (All youth events are held at Explora Science Center, 1701 Mountain Rd NW)

• 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Workshop 1  
• 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Workshop 2
• 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Lunch 
• 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM | Youth Slam
•  

Day 5: (Sunday, March 22)  - If you’re still in town and want one more chance to connect with community

11:00 AM – Whenever | Breaking Bread: Poets Picnic

• Red Door Brewing, 509 Central Ave SW

Venue List:

• Explora - 1701 Mountain Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104
• Albuquerque Museum - 2000 Mountain Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104
• Red Door Brewing - 509 Central Ave SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102
• Outpost 1706 - 301 Romero St NW Suite 205, Albuquerque, NM 87104
• Church Street Café - 2111 Church St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104
• Old Town Cafe - 206 San Felipe St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104
• The Taproom in Old Town - 524 Romero St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104
• Secret Gallery - 717 Central Ave NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102 (in the host hotel)
• Albuquerque Social Club - 4021 Central Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM 87108
• Historic Lobo Theater - 3013 Central Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106
• The Guild Cinema - 3405 Central Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106

Tips for Attendees

• Timezone: All times are in MST.
• Check the website: for more specific details on events, updated scores & more 
• Stay Updated: Follow the live schedule changes on our [Link to Website].