Open House 2024
Please visit us for our annual Open House, free and open to the public. The event will include tours of the historic home, writing workshops, and an evening event. More details coming soon!
This year, the Friends of Theodore Roethke are inviting the community to the 4th Annual Open House at the Roethke Campus on September 21st, 2024, from 1 pm to 7 pm.
Activities include Tours of Theodore Roethke’s Childhood Home with guest guides Jeff Vande Zande and Tom Trombley. Visit the Roethke Pop-Up Library, Swag Table in the Stone House, and a Doll House Book Workshop led by Sherrin Frances.
Additionally, there is an Author Expo in the backyard of the homes where attendees can chat with local authors and purchase their work. The main events will be later in the afternoon, starting with a reading from Jeff Van de Zande’s newest novel, The Dance of Rotten Sticks. Then, the winner of the Saginaw Poetry (adult) Contest, Jennifer Debellis, will read her winning work during our Poetry Reading. Closing out the evening, poet and teacher Jared Morningstar will host the annual Open Mic.
Event Descriptions
Doll House Book-Making Workshop
1:30-5:30 pm
Participants visiting the Stone House can participate in a Doll House Book Workshop. This event is self-paced, with guidance from FOTR President Sherrin Frances.
Self-Guided Tours
1:30-6:00 pm
Self-Guided House Tours of Theodore Roethke’s Childhood Home will be available. With special guest docents Jeff Van De Zande, author of the award-winning novel American Poet, 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm, and Chief Historian of the Castle Museum, Tom Trombley, 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm.
Novel Reading
3:00-4:00 pm
Reading from his newest book, Jeff Van de Zande will invite readers into the realm of Gothic Horror with The Dance of Rotten Sticks.
Poetry Reading
4:00-5:00 pm
This year’s speaker is the Saginaw Library’s Poetry Contest (Adult) Winner, Jennifer DeBellis. She will share her winning work and talk about her experiences as a writer
Open Mic
6:00-7:00 pm
Grab a chair and get those fingers ready to snap! Our Open House Poetry Slam has cultivated a supportive, creative community since its start, and we will continue that tradition in 2024. Join local poet Jared Morningstar on stage to share your favorite poem or one you’ve written yourself.
Pre-register for the Open Mic Here or before the event at the Stone House.