WORD Vancouver brought crowds in from the rain and onto the page.
Literature lovers, comic connoisseurs, and other book buffs came out to WORD Vancouver at the end of September to check out some of the best work from Vancouver’s literary field. The festival has celebrated nineteen years of success, and usually brings bookworms from all over.
However, a downpour on the first day put quite a damper on attendance. Though it was hard to imagine more people participating in the event, veteran festival-goers said that crowds typically fill up Library Square.
Some interesting characters came out this year, including a man on stilts with a flamboyant scarlet costume and a ukulele.
WORD Vancouver is family-friendly, and can certainly be entertaining for people of all ages. Face-painting was offered by donation, and large selections of the books on sale were aimed at younger audiences.
It’s never too late to take an interest in literature, though, especially when you can enjoy modern writing in new ways. For example, WORD Vancouver created buzz this year with new poetry dispensers, which are vending machines that dispense poetry for $2.
WANT TO READ A $2 POEM FOR FREE?
THE LINK‘S RHIANNA SCHMUNK PONIED UP THE DOUGH AND PARTOOK IN VENDED POETRY.
FIND OUT HOW SHE FARED IN THE FIRST GLOSSY EDITION OF THE LINK OUT NEXT WEEK!
Happy Science Vancouver had a similar concept with Words of Wisdom. Volunteers handed out free envelopes with encouragement written on business cards.
Poetry in Transit offered some lit previously shown on buses.
Poetry in Transit is well-known to Lower Mainland commuters for the short poetry pieces on public transit a fun concept that makes bus and SkyTrain trips more interesting. Poems that have been featured on buses were on sale for $5.
So, WORD offered poetry, a pump-up, and poster – and the vendors were just as varied.
It would be hard to sum it up in one WORD, but this annual event is a great place to spend a Saturday. Any word-worm can find something special.
