Every Monday (During the School Year):

The Poetry Forum holds their poetry show @ the Rumba Cafe every Monday from 7PM until 9:30 PM. For more info, go to: http://www.puddinghouse.com/calendar.htm — the calendar lists all of the dates for The Poetry Forum.

Writing Wrongs holds their poetry show @ the Urban Spirit Coffee Shop every Tuesday from 8PM until 11PM. Urban Spirit Coffee Shop is located at 893 E Long St, Columbus, OH. Admission $5 ($4 w/student ID). The show is awesome and usually includes an open mic and a feature; slams are usually held at least once a month.

For more info, go to: http://www.writingwrongspoetryslam.com

Every Wednesday:

• Writer’s Block Poetry Night at Kafe Kerouac, 2250 N. High Street, Columbus, OH, 43201, has their open mics and slams every Wednesday. Check out their schedule and events for 2009 here.
• New Harvest Cafe hosts their open mic every Wednesday nights at 9:00 P.M. New Harvest is located at 1675 Arlington Avenue. You can find more information and their schedule on their website.

Every Thursday:

Cover Me presents “The Art of…” happens every Thursday at Zanzibar Brews, located at 750 East Long Street, Columbus. Cover Me does Poetry, Music, Art, and more — and there is an open mic. Show starts at 8 p.m. Admission is $4 (students w/ ID $3).

For more information, email: NickCoverMeCEO AT yahoo DOT com

Every Third Friday:

Writer’s Block holds its First Draft Poetry Night every Third Friday at 8:00 PM at Kafe Kerouac, 2250 N. High Street, Columbus, Ohio. Admission is $3. This is a night to read new poems only and is hosted by WB’s only Joanna Schroeder.

Poetry in the Park is a summer poetry series held in Goodale Park at 6:00 P.M. every Third Saturday during the summer. This year’s schedule has been posted, and readings will be held in July, August, and September. For more details and a schedule of featured poets, please visit:

http://www.poetryinthepark.com/

Festivals:

I should mention two major festivals in town where you can find poetry:

• Comfest is short for Community Festival. It is an annual event held during the last weekend of June, and the website describes it as a “Party with a Purpose”. It is a unique festival in its own right, and the performance schedule does feature poetry (usually a slam on Saturday Night).
• The Columbus Arts Festival happens during the first weekend in June every year. There is a Poetry Corner where poets read there work throughout the three-day festival. Poets must submit their work and audition to be considered to read, and each poet is also competing to win first, second, and third place prizes in the poetry category. More information about the festival is available here.