Highland Park Poetry welcomes Melissa Huff and John S. O'Connor as our featured poets. Melissa Huff is the author of "To Speak to Each Day in its Own Language" (Kelsay Books, 2025) and John S. O'Connor shares poems from his collection, "Streets and San" (Finishing Line Press, 2025). Open-mic follows features. Poets may bring up to 3 poems to share, though Highland Park Poetry reserves the right to limit the number to ensure that all participants have an opportunity to read. There is no cover charge and attendees are encouraged to support featured poets by purchasing a book as well as supporting the businesses that support us. There is three-hour free parking in the garage directly below the venue.
Find details about every creative writing competition—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, grants for translators, and more—that we’ve published in the Grants & Awards section of Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it in the Writing Contests database, the most trusted resource for legitimate writing contests available anywhere.





