Join Us for Hayward's 1st Literary Hop in Downtown Hayward!

Celebrating Independent Bookstore Day and Poetry Month

Begins at the Hayward Library Heritage Plaza

Saturday April 30 at 3 PM

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

Reading events will include presentations from the B Street Writers, Horror Writers Association, Mystery Writers of America (NorCal), the Afrosurreal Writers Workshop of Oakland, the Beta Readers & Writers, Students from Chabot College and Hayward Unified School District, the Bay Area Queer Writers, the Hayward Peer Writers, the California Writers Club Berkeley, a tribute to Julia Vinograd and a Ghosts of Babar show.

We'll initially kick off the event at Hayward's Heritage Plaza with Mayor Halliday and Hayward's First Youth Poet Laureate, and a dance performance by the Winton Middle School Ballet Folklorico. Then journey Downtown to a variety of events over the next few hours at venues including City Hall Plaza, the Odd Fellows Lodge, the Turf Club, Aranea Craft Studio, The Pizza House, Books on B, and Yoga Sociale.

Join us for the 7 PM After-Party at the Sun Gallery, including music by The TaleSpinners, food and refreshments, while viewing the Climate Change Art exhibit.

This will be a fun way to gather, meet your neighbors and discover their talents, and hear some cool writing while supporting local businesses!

#HaywardLitHop

3:00 - 3:45 PM

Hayward Library - Kickoff!

Heritage Plaza - 835 C Street

Join us with the City of Hayward's Mayor Barbara Halliday and poet laureate Bruce Roberts as they announce Hayward's 1st Youth Poet Laureate. Poetry by the top 3 laureates Germani Latchison, Pabi Constantino, and Ky'ree Taylor, and performances by the Winton Middle School Ballet Folklorico.

4:00 - 4:45 PM

Afrosurreal Writers Workshop of Oakland

The World Famous Turf Club - 22519 Main St (A & B St)

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

Bay Area Queer Writers Association Reads

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

Local queer authors read from their recent releases and share a bit about their group.

"Embodied" by the CA Writers Club

Yoga Sociale - 938 B Street (Mission & Main)

Writing and Living in the Body by the California Writers Club Berkeley - with movement breaks by Laura.

Student & Family Readings

City Hall Plaza - 777 B Street

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

Youth Storytellers

Aranea Craft Studio - 943 C Street (Mission & Main)

Students from Hayward Unified School District share their original pieces.

5:00 - 5:45 PM

Ghosts of Babar

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

Featuring a diverse group of experienced poetic voices each of whom were present for the notorious Café Babar readings in San Francisco in the 1980’s and 90’s.

A Reading of Short Fiction

Aranea Craft Studio - 943 C Street (Mission & Main)

The Beta Readers and Writers Meetup will read a selection of their short works including flash fiction and short story excerpts.

Poetry by Hayward Peer Writers

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

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

Homegrown Horrors

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

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

6:00 - 6:45 PM

B Street Writers Collective

Sun Gallery - 1015 E Street (end of Main across Foothill)

Readings on Climate Change to complement the Sun Gallery’s climate exhibit.

Voices of the Now

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

Creative writing students from Chabot College present selections from their original poems and short stories.

Between Spirit and Stone: A Julia Vinograd Tribute Screening & Reading

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

A tribute to iconic, bubble-blowing Berkeley poet Julia Vinograd featuring an excerpt from an in-progress documentary on her life and work, followed by readings of her most cherished poems.