7:06AM (Dawn)
The walkabout begins at Ferlinghetti’s former family home with the reading of “The Changing Light” at sunrise.

“The changing light 
at San Franciso    
is none of your East Coast light
none of your
pearly light of Paris
The light of San Francisco
is a sea light
an island
light
And the light of fog
blanketing the hills
drifting in at night
through the Golden Gate
to lie on
the city at dawn…”.

8:30AM
At this stop we’ll walk amongst some of Ferlinghetti’s largest paintings installed in the cavernous public atrium of Historic Bldg. 12, a former shipbuilding site. Musician, artist, and author Nick Jaina will provide a musical soundscape as a backdrop for poets reading from the mezzanine.

Confirmed poets at this stop:
Andrew Paul Nelson
Toph Baby

10:00AM
Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s poem “Baseball Canto” is “a vibrant celebration of baseball as a metaphor for cultural revolution and the breaking down of traditional barriers.” As is tradition, we’ll stop to read this poem along the walkabout. Citizen poets will slide this one into home, this time at a new site—McCovey Cove at the 3RD ST Bridge, in the shadow of the ballpark where the San Francisco Giants play.

11:00AM - 2:00PM PST
At the San Francisco Historical Society we’ll be Zooming live from the “Lunch Poems Poetry Post” from 11:00AM - 2:00PM.

Tune in for readings live from the SFHS, impromptu tours of the exhibit (which closes on Ferlinghetti Day), and readings by citizen poets from wherever they may be.

We’ll also be signalling through the flames and across the 5000+ miles of land and sea to sync-up with a Ferlinghetti Day event in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England at The 1 in 12 Library, the largest anarchist library in the UK. 

Click the Zoom link here on Monday between 11am-2pm PST to join.

Fun fact: “Lunch Poems” is a book of poetry by Frank O'Hara published in 1964 by City Lights, number 19 in the Pocket Poets series. The collection was commissioned by Ferlinghetti as early as 1959, but O'Hara delayed in completing it. “O’Hara, who worked as a MoMA curator while he wrote ‘Lunch Poems,’ began his lunch break each afternoon by strolling through Times Square. Written in literal motion, the flow of each poem takes on the instinctive rhythm of walking, of stopping and going, and having your other senses triggered into alertness without warning—as if the reader is right beside O’Hara, meeting him step for step in real time.”

Noon
This year we’ll stop at a special site not to be missed…“Ferlinghetti | An exhibit in 6 vignettes.” The exhibit at the SFHS, which has been on view since September and closes on Ferlinghetti Day, focuses on different aspects of Ferlinghetti’s life as shown from a new perspective—his own. The exhibit draws all of its material from his personal effects, his personal library, his paintings, and other unique artifacts from his life and times.

We’ll lunch, we’ll hydrate, we’ll take a last look at the 100+ objects, artifacts, and artwork in the exhibit, and we’ll enjoy some poetry.

Confirmed poets at this stop:
Agneta Falk Hirschman
Jennifer Barone
Guido Frosini (reading in Italian)

2:30PM
This stop packs a one two punch…we’ll start with a couple poems at the tree and end with a couple more at the alley.

The “signature tree” was planted on Arbor Day in 2019 by San Francisco’s Department of Public Works to honor Ferlinghetti’s 100th birthday. “Olive trees symbolize peace, rebirth, victory, and longevity. They are also associated with friendship, reconciliation, and healing.”

In 1994 at the dedication ceremony for Via Ferlinghetti, Lawrence said that the dead-end alley was once used by bootleggers and undertakers, and that a poet could hang with that crowd. So will we.

Confirmed poets at this stop:
Caitlyn Skye Wild
Charlie Getter

4:00PM
Golden Sardine is a wine bar, bottle and tinned fish shop, and poetry bookstore. The perfect place for weary walkabout-ers to rest, re-group, and enjoy readings from the window of the poetry loft overlooking Columbus.

Confirmed poets at this stop:
Sarah Menefee
Erica Lewis
Kevin Dublin
Lauren Dissident Parker
Stellar Cassidy
Jessica Loos

5:30PM
What would City Lights be without Ferlinghetti, just like what would Ferlinghetti Day be without a stop at City Lights? This special stop is not to be missed, with readings from the second floor window…sounds sailing above Columbus and Kerouac Alley…and beyond.

Confirmed poets at this stop:
Genny Lim, current San Francisco Poet Laureate
Josiah Luis Alderete

6:30-ish PM (Magic Hour)
Circle up and gather ‘round with the poets of the Coit Tower Poetry Club who spearhead a magic hour gathering under the dome at Palace of Fine Arts. A special way to close out Ferlinghetti Day, from sunrise to sunset. All are welcome.

Kerouac Alley 5:50-ish PM
(after the poetry readings at 5:30)

Under the Dome at Palace of Fine Arts 6:50-ish PM
(after the poetry readings at 6:30-ish)

EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT!
We are thrilled to announce that The Conspiracy of Beards will be joining FERLINGHETTI DAY 2025 at Kerouac Alley AND under the dome at the Palace of Fine Arts. You don’t know how much you need this! 

We’re looking to re-create that magical moment in Kerouac Alley on March 24th, 2019 in celebration of Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s 100th birthday. This year, again, the sounds will take wing over “little old wooden North Beach.”

All. Day. Long.
Can’t make it in person? Not to worry. We’ll be posting and live streaming along the way. Follow along. Give it a like and a comment so we know you’re out there. We’re so glad you’re here.

Have a poem or a video or a piece of Ferlinghetti-inspired art you’d like to share? Send a DM to @ferlinghetti_day or send an email to FerlinghettiDay@gmail.com.

You just might see it get shared online or posted along the route of the walkabout in San Francisco on Ferlinghetti Day.