Poets to kick off Pig IronSSRqs daylong festival

the vindicator

YOUNGSTOWN —The Pig Iron Literary Art Works Street Festival will be Saturday on North Phelps Street, downtown, between Commerce and Federal streets.

The free, daylong festival will feature an artist and community bazaar with crafts for sale, and exhibits. An eight-hour stage program will feature 11 acts, including music, theater and poetry, and a talent show. The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Food will be offered by Santa Fe Southwestern Grill, Pizza Joe’s and Franco’s Catering.

Returning as master of ceremonies will be Dr. Raymond Beiersdorfer, a geology department professor at Youngstown State University.

The show will kick off with a poetry reading by the Pig Iron Poets, who will introduce the featured poet, Edward Morin of Ann Arbor, Mich.

Morin is the author of two collections of poems, “The Dust of Our City” and “Labor Day at Walden Pond.” He has also produced a song cassette, “Transportation: Hot Tunes and Blues from Motor City.” Morin will present his work at 12:30 and 5:20 p.m.

Musical performances begin at 1 p.m. with Lucky Penny; also scheduled to perform are Patricia Owen, Soul Kitty and The Real Deal.

At 3 p.m., historian Steffon Wydell Jones will perform a first-person improvisation in character of a Civil War soldier.

The talent show begins at 3:30 p.m. To register, call (330) 747-6932.

Music resumes at 5:40 p.m. with Just Teasin’ Around, followed by a 6:15 p.m. poetry reading by the Fallen City Writers.

Also scheduled to appear are vocalist Rachell Joy; Avenue; and Mike Stout, a socially conscious singer, songwriter and community organizer. The closing performance will feature Rioter Sons from Mercer, Pa.