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The 2025 Writing in Color Fest will be held on August 16 and 17 in person at Lighthouse Writers Workshop in Denver, Colorado.
Join us for a two-day writing festival designed to celebrate and amplify the stories and voices of BIPOC+* writers. No matter what writing project you’re working on, our experienced faculty will work closely with you during classes throughout the weekend to support your writing process. The Fest also includes community-building events and artist talks for all writers and creatives of color, even if not attending classes.
Writing in Color Fest is open to writers of all genres and creatives who identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC+). The goal of the Fest is to provide a space for writers of color to be in community and thrive as they grow their writing skills. Tuition assistance and payment plans are available.
*BIPOC+ includes but is not limited to African, Indigenous, Native, Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander, Arab, and Multiracial heritage.
2025 Fest Schedule
Check out the schedule for our 2025 Writing in Color Fest which includes class and evening event descriptions, pass breakdowns, and financial assistance information!
Craft Seminars
Craft seminars are one-time workshops that focus on developing and learning about a specific skill or particular element of a genre or writing technique. This year’s craft seminars will be taught by Suzi Q. Smith, Dino Enrique Piacentini, Steven Dunn, and Andrew Hernández. These classes are a great resource for connecting with other writers of color while learning from Lighthouse’s supportive faculty.
Write and Chill
Bring your lunch (or have it delivered!) and join us for an afternoon break between classes during this year’s Writing in Color Fest! Try out some informal writing time with fellow writers or enjoy your lunch with some casual silent reading time.
Generative Spaces
Sometimes, all you need is a space to create—a space that can nourish existing inspiration or ignite new ideas. Generative classes are a time to put pen to paper and focus on getting something written down. Join instructors Julissa Contreras and Teré Fowler-Chapman for casual generative classes designed to help you dive into your writing during this year’s Writing in Color Fest.
Evening Events
At the end of each day during this year’s Writing in Color Fest, we’ll come together as a community to discuss our artistic practices, restore our creativity, and connect as writers of color. This year's lineup of evening events includes artist talks and a Sip & Script tea ceremony! The evening artist talks are open to all writers and art lovers who would like to attend. The focus will be on holding space for BIPOC+ writers and creatives to connect and learn in community.
Passes
Passes are a great fit for writers who want to attend multiple Fest offerings throughout the weekend. Signing up for a Gold, Silver, or Bronze Pass will allow you to get the full experience of the festival at a discounted rate.
While tuition assistance is not available for passes, we do encourage you to look at our payment plan options which you can find on our Financial Assistance page.
Accessibility Guide
Attending the festival in person? Check out our Accessibility Guide for an overview of the space. Contact us if you would like to request specific accessibility accommodations or visit the info booth for staff/volunteer support.