Twentieth Lit Fest Brings Literary Light to Denver

Milestones are important. Anniversaries mark longevity, and longevity suggests success, commitment, devotion and abiding love. So it's notable that this year is Lighthouse Writers Workshops' twentieth Lit Fest. That's two full decades of serving up writers and the literary community a movable feast of paginated pleasures that celebrates the written word and those who create it.

But this year? "It's more important now than ever," says Lighthouse co-founder and program director Andrea Dupree. "Being around other thoughtful people who want to hear stories and engage and know each other — that's one of the basic elements that's always been a part of Lit Fest. But this year, we need to build back a sense of trust, and one of the best ways to build back trust with another human being is to hear their story. It's a position of vulnerability that allows both people to see each other more clearly and gain empathy. And that's something we need right now."

The invitation for empathy will be only one of the constructive and life-affirming aspects of Lit Fest 2025. The festival's eight-day run from June 6-13 is a massive celebration of writers and readers, an extravaganza of weeklong and weekend advanced workshops, craft seminars, readings, salons, business panels, agent meetings and parties. Everything takes place at or near Lighthouse's custom-built facility at 3844 York Street.

Tickets are still available, and some events are free and open to the public. For specific details and a full breakdown of the schedule, see the Lit Fest 2025 page on the Lighthouse website. 

The most exciting draw of Lit Fest each year is the slate of nationally recognized visiting writers, and 2025 is no exception. The list of literary luminaries for this year includes fiction writers Steve Almond, Paul Harding, Mat Johnson, Katie Kitamura, Elizabeth McCracken, Helen Phillips and Tony Tulathimutte; nonfiction writers Ingrid Rojas Contreras, Nicole Chung, Claire Dederer, Alex Marzano-Lesnevitch and Eileen Myles; and poets Eduardo Corral, Solmaz Sharif and Matthew Zapruder. There will also be a slew of visiting agents and editors on hand to offer panels and personalized advice on how to effectively pursue publication.
One of the most exciting events — and one of the several that are offered gratis — is the The Book Project Showcase at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 11. Successful local writers (and Lighthouse alums) Nini Berndt, Gloria Browne-Marshall, Jenny Dandy and Jan Thomas will read from their published works, talk about the process they went through in creating and publishing their works and more. The event wraps up with a Q&A from Book Project instructor, novelist William Haywood Henderson, and a book signing.

"There's an amazing structure year-round at Lighthouse," adds Angelica DiIorio, director of marketing and communications. "People who know the workshops and are excited to come back. When you're a writer, it's in you, and you want to share that with people who get that. Lighthouse is an oasis, a space for writers to come together, not only to hone their craft, but also to remember that they have this community. Other writers who are going to stand behind them. Whatever space you need, you're going to find it here. This is a group that will carry you through the solitary act of writing, and stick with you."

In modern America, in which the arts are only one important aspect of our culture currently under active attack, Dupree says it's important that things like Lit Fest survive. But she remains confident that despite challenges, it will. "Creatives are a pretty stubborn crew of people to target," she laughs. "We're used to not having a ton of funding. We're used to not being beloved by certain political factions. They can starve some organizations for sure, but charitable giving often goes up sometimes when the arts are in danger. In times like we're experiencing now, people are looking for a refuge."

To that end, Lighthouse Writers Workshop has a donation page for those who can't spare the time to come out to Lit Fest but still want to support the ongoing efforts of the parent organization. Lighthouse Writers Workshop is a 501c3 non-profit, and more information on how to give — even as a tribute to someone to whom a donation can be dedicated — is on the Lighthouse website.

"One of my favorite aspects of Lit Fest, year after year, has been the level of engagement," Dupree says. "People really do put down their phones and other mediating devices and just really get to know each other. They'll sit out on the lawns and eat meals together and talk—really talk. There's something re-invigorating about that. Having people to laugh with. The sharing of thoughts and time and attention. That's the cherry on top."

Lit Fest 2025 will take place from Friday, June 6, through Friday, June 13, at the Lighthouse Writers Workshop at 3844 York Street. For more information, schedules, and to buy week-long passes or tickets for specific events, see the Lit Fest 2025 website.