Sacramento Poetry Day: Ride Free with a Poem on SacRT
Celebrate the art of poetry and experience the beauty of public transit this Sacramento Poetry Day, Saturday, October 26, 2024! In honor of this special day, SacRT is offering free rides on all fixed-route buses and light rail – all you need to do is share an uplifting poem with your bus driver or fare inspector!
How It Works:
- Share a Poem for a Free Ride: Simply present an uplifting poem—whether on your phone or a printed /written copy—when you board a bus or pass a fare inspector on light rail and enjoy a free ride.
- Poetry Live at Transit Stations: Join us at select SacRT stations for live poetry performances from local poets. Listen to creative voices from across the region as they share their work and spread inspiration.
Join us at the following locations:
- Sunrise Station: 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. (during the Sunrise Station Farmers’ Market)
- 16th Street Station: 11 a.m. – Noon
- 7th & Capitol Station: Noon – 1 p.m.
Join the movement by spreading the word on social media using the hashtag #SacRTPoetry. Let’s make poetry a part of your positive transit journey!
About Sacramento Poetry Day:
Since 1986, Sacramento has celebrated the art of poetry with Sacramento Poetry Day, a tradition established by Mayor Anne Rudin to honor the city’s literary community and the anthology Landing Signals.
Revived in 2022 with the support of the American Academy of Poets, Sacramento Poetry Day has grown into a powerful platform featuring a free, locally sourced poetry curriculum, cash-prize contests, and an annual ceremony recognizing the city’s leading voices.
This year, the celebration expands! For the first time ever, Sacramento Poetry Day becomes Sacramento Poetry Week, a full week of events designed to elevate the city’s vibrant voices.
The expanded week features:
- A multilingual poetry curriculum for students
- Cash prize contests for youth and adults
- The highly anticipated Awards Gala
- Sacramento’s beloved poetry events held throughout the week
- Free SacRT rides on Sacramento Poetry Day (October 26th) through the Pay with a Poem program, where residents ride free by showing their poem
- The Poetry Ride, with activations at light rail stations and an open mic at The Crocker Art Museum
- New mental health support programs for poets
In partnership with Sacramento Library, Sacramento Poetry Center, Sol Collective, and many other local creatives, Sacramento Poetry Week is a chance to explore the power of words, connect with the community, and celebrate the diverse voices that make Sacramento a poetry hub.
Don’t miss this incredible week of creativity, learning, and celebration! For more details, visit SacramentoPoetryWeek.com and see how you can be part of this inspiring journey