Lowell – Poe in Lowell returns to celebrate author Edgar Allan Poe’s three visits to the city between 1848 and 1849, with a three-day festival of spoken word, live music, dance, film screening of Roger Corman’s “The Pit and the Pendulum,” and more.

“Poe’s visits to Lowell are a special part of the city’s history and literary heritage,” said Poe in Lowell creator and director, Meg Smith. “We celebrate a literary master of horror, mystery, poetry and fiction, beloved by readers around the world. Poe in Lowell invites everyone to revel in Poe’s darkly magical legacy here in Lowell.”

This year also marks the 30th anniversary of Meg Smith’s events honoring Edgar Allan Poe.

Poe in Lowell celebrates Poe’s place in Lowell’s history, with the Poe in Lowell festival, virtual and in-person celebrations of Poe’s birthday (Jan. 19, 1809 in Boston,) and partnerships with cultural organizations, including Lowell Celebrates Kerouac!

The Poe in Lowell festival launched last year in October 2024, bringing together artists, musicians, dancers, performance poets, and partnerships with city cultural organizations and local businesses.

During the festival, Poe in Lowell will also award “Spirit” awards to individuals, organizations and businesses who have contributed to Poe in Lowell, to arts and literary efforts, and Lowell’s community.

Recipients include writer and educator David Daniel; artist and author Eric Stanway; posthumous awards to Jennifer Martelli, and others to be announced.

2025 Poe in Lowell Festival highlights include:

Oct. 24

“The Lovely Darkness,” an evening of poetry readings, including from Poe’s works, Oct. 24, 7 p.m. at The Dragonfly Cafe at Lowell’s Thorndike Exchange. With special musical guest, Everly Estelle. Dance performance by Morgana Mirage. Readings by poets Victor Infante, Stanley Kunitz Poetry Medal recipient; Linda Wlodyka, Massachusetts Beat Poet Laureate 2023-2025, and tribute to late poet, Jennifer Martelli. Tickets $10 advance, $15 at the door.

Oct. 25

“Black Cat Bop and Shop” 3 p.m. Oct. 25. At Lazy Cat Lounge. Stop in and meet wonderful cats available for adoption; get some gifts for your favorite felines and humans, and more.

“Harnessing the ‘How’ of Horror,” a presentation of Poe’s eternal appeal in popular culture, led by Andrew Cook, instructor at Pinkerton Academy and Middlesex Community College, noon, Oct. 25, Pollard Memorial Library, 401 Merrimack St., Lowell. Free, donations accepted.

“A Dream Within A Dream” 7 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Whistler House Museum of Art. An evening gala at the historic home of artist James McNeill Whistler. Special musical guest Eddy Dyer; performance poet Latina Bohemian, and a special performance of words and movement interpreting Poe’s “The Haunted Palace.” Tickets $15 advance, $20  at the door.

Oct. 26

“Beauty and Strangeness,” artist reception and readings of Poe short stories, 11 a.m. Oct. 26 at lala books, 189 Market St., Lowell. Celebrate “Beauty and Strangeness” art exhibit, with readings by John Edward Keough, Meg Smith,

Special screen of Roger Corman’s “The Pit and the Pendulum,” starring Vincent Price, 2 p.m. Oct. 26 at Middlesex Community College’s Owl Theater, Middlesex Community College’s Richard and Nancy Donahue Academic Arts Center, Free admission; donations support Poe in Lowell programming.

“Parting of Friendly Spirits,” 7 p.m. Oct. 26, Worthen House, 141 Worthen St., Lowell. A casual and informal gathering of spirits at this historic restaurant, bar and live entertainment venue. Free, donations support Poe in Lowell programming.

For more information on all Poe in Lowell events, see the schedule at linktr.ee/poeinlowell.

Special exhibits

“Poe in Lowell: The People’s poet,” a collectibles and books showing Poe’s place in popular culture, on view through October at Pollard Memorial Library. Access through Colburn Street entrance.

“Beauty and Strangeness,” an exhibit of artists exploring the strangely beautiful places of the imagination, on view through October at  lala books, 189 Market St., Lowell.

This year’s Poe in Lowell sponsors include Middlesex Community College, Horror Realm, Midnight Mews and Lowell Ink.

Brief selected bios

Meg Smith

Meg Smith is a journalist whose work has been honored with several awards from the New England Newspaper and Press Association. She is a widely-published poet and short fiction writers, whose works have appeared in The Cafe Review, Lowell Review, and more. In addition to creating Poe in Lowell, is a longtime member of Lowell Celebrates Kerouac!, which produces an annual festival to honor Lowell-born author Jack Kerouac. She is a nominee for the Stanley Kunitz poetry medal, and DIY Lowell’s volunteer of the year. Poe in Lowell was nominated for DIY Lowell’s award to transformational community organizations.

Latina Bohemian

Latina Bohemian is a Lowell-based poet and spoken word artist, an immigrant daughter of Dominican and Puerto Rican heritage, whose artistry seeks to uplift the BIPOC (Black, indigenous and people of color) community. Her work includes singles released on Apple Music like “HEALING POETRY” and “SENSITIVITY,” and she has been featured at various arts centers and literary magazines. She is a recipient of the Because of Her award in honor of Lowell’s Women History Month celebrations.

Linda Wlodyka

Linda Bratcher Wlodyka served as the Massachusetts Beat Poet Laureate (2023-2025). She retired as an educator from Mt. Greylock Regional School District in Williamstown in 2020. July 2025 Linda was recently commissioned to write an ekphrastic poem to a sculpture titled, In Sync, located at The Mount in Lenox, Massachusetts, Kathy Ruttenberg from the Hudson Valley, New York is the sculptor. Wlodyka  held the position as a docent at The Mount, from 2002-2006, Edith Wharton’s summer home. Linda’s poem, “Secret Cottage” was voted Best in the Berkshires in 2012. Linda previously self-published 3 chapbooks, Her Spirited Cameo, Voices from the Blue Room and Tick Tock. movements. She is a member of The Florence Poet’s Society and is on their editing board for their yearly anthology, Silkworm. Her next book is forthcoming in 2026 titled, Mistress of the Wick.

Eddy Dyer

Eddy Dyer is a Lowell-based musician.

Eddy Dyer’s music is like New England weather; if you don’t like it, stick around.

Eddy Dyer’s debut album, Explosion Alone, an acoustic masterpiece of introspective lyrics, psychedelic sounds, and punk attitude, has been remastered for a 25th anniversary reissue and available on vinyl for the first time at thatpromisingdog.bandcamp.com.

Victor D. Infante

Victor D. Infante is the features editor for The Worcester Telegram & Gazette and the editor for Worcester Magazine.

He has appeared in dozens of journals, including The Chiron Review, The Collagist, Barrelhouse, Pearl, Spillway and The Banyan Review, as well as in anthologies such as “Poetry Slam: The Competitive Art of Performance Poetry,” “Spoken Word Revolution Redux,” “The Last American Valentine: Poems to Seduce and Destroy,” and many more.

His first full-length poetry collection, “City of Insomnia,” was published by Write Bloody Publishing, and his most recent release is the poetic novella, “Suffer For This,” from Moon Tide Press.