save the date!

Saturday April 26, 2025

2 PM - 8 PM

A Literary Hop through Downtown Hayward!

Come back later for the 2025 schedule!

Saturday April 27, 2024

2 PM - 8 PM

Showcasing a variety of local writers' groups performing at various venues.
All ages are welcome. Free and Open to the Public.

Event begins at the Downtown Hayward Library Heritage Plaza.

2024 Schedule

2 PM - East Bay Symphonic Band

2:45 PM - Kickoff to the Lit Hop

3 PM - Mayor Announces Poet Laureates

4 PM - Lit Hop through Downtown

7 PM - After-Party at the Odd Fellows Lodge

Full Schedule

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Video of Hayward Lit Hop 2022.
View Past Lit Hops: 2022 | 2023

#HaywardLitHop

In partnership with:

Hayward Library

We've joined Organize Hayward!

2:00 - 3:30 PM

Hayward Lit Hop - Kickoff!

Heritage Plaza - 835 C Street

Listen to performances by the East Bay Symphonic Band, Mayor Salinas announces Hayward's new poet laureates, followed by poetry from poet laureate candidates.

4:00 - 4:45 PM

Leyendos Con Estudiantes y Familias (Student & Family Readings)

Dirty Bird Lounge - 926 B Street (Mission & Main) - Outside in Rear

Francisco Zermeño with Chabot College students and family present interesting material, sharing the joys of reading out loud in Spanish and English. Vamos a leer en español.

Senior Scribes

The Pizza House - 943 B Street (Mission & Main)

Hayward Recreation Senior Writing Class. Seniors share submissions with support, encouragement, and no judgment.

Women's National Book Association

Odd Fellows Lodge (IOOF) - 950 B Street (Mission & Main)

WNBA is a vibrant national organization that has advocated since 1917 for women’s literacy and for women’s role in the community of the book. Bay Area members will present readings.

East Bay Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers

The World Famous Turf Club - 22519 Main St

A group that meets monthly to offer critiques and support to writers in the sci-fi and fantasy genres. We'll have individual readers offering a sample of their own writing. (21+ only)

CA College of the Arts: Past & Present

Books on B - 1014 B Street (Main & Foothill)

Bookseller & poet Matthew Sobin hosts an hour of poetry, prose, and hybrid works by current students and alumni from CCA, all stellar emerging writers reading new work across the genres.

5:00 - 5:45 PM

Afrosurreal Writers Workshop of Oakland

Dirty Bird Lounge - 926 B Street (Mission & Main) - Outside in Rear

A community of Black writers and scholars share writings about the speculative fiction of the African Diaspora. For adult audiences. 21+ ONLY.

Homegrown Horrors

Odd Fellows Lodge (IOOF) - 950 B Street (Mission & Main)

East Bay Area members of the Horror Writers Association read spooky selections from their current and upcoming works.

Bay Area Queer Writers Presents New Fiction

Books on B - 1014 B Street (Main & Foothill)

BAQWA members read from their new novels and short stories.

Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

Kin Cafe - 1019 B Street (Main & Foothill)

Tales & Poems About the Passing of Time. CA Writers Club-Berkeley returns with a reading from our members that focuses on the elastic concept of time.

Open Mic

Ska Dog Records - 946 B Street (Mission & Main)

For anyone who didn't get to join a group, here is your chance to read your favorite piece!

6:00 - 6:45 PM

Women Who Submit Lit

The Pizza House - 943 B Street (Mission & Main)

Empowering women and nonbinary writers by helping prepare to submit works for publication.

Hayward Peer Writers

Music Depot - 944 B Street (Mission & Main)

Presenting a mix of poetry and prose from a small and diverse group of writers who gather to improve our writing skills.

Mystery Writers of America - NorCal

Books on B - 1014 B Street (Main & Foothill)

Our members will read from their recent mysteries and thrillers.

Creative Writing Student Showcase

Kin Cafe - 1019 B Street (Main & Foothill)

CSU East Bay English + Creative Writing Department invites you to readings from our literary magazine Occam’s Razor.

7:00 PM

Lit Hop After Party!

Odd Fellows Lodge (IOOF) - 950 B Street (Mission & Main)

Come join us for free food & drinks, with the gentle tones of Rico’s guitar. Come meet the writers you heard read, and relax after the Hop!