The Yakima Coffeehouse Poets presents Open Mic Night on the second Wednesday of each month, September through May, usually held at the Larson Gallery, YVC Campus, 1606 W. Nob Hill Blvd (across the street from the old Larson Gallery).
Our Open Mic meetings usually begin at 6:30pm (unless otherwise noted) with doors open 30 minutes before as a reception.
Next Open Mic:
Wednesday, December 10, 2025,
6:30pm
at the Larson Gallery
(Doors open at 6:00pm for a Reception prior to the Reading.)
Featured Poet: Polo Muñoz
Polo Muñoz was born in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico on January 1, 1956. He came to Yakima in 1996 and fell in love with the valley. He appreciates the weather here and spends much of his time outdoors. He is self-educated, with no formal schooling past high school. Polo taught himself to read and write in English. Poetry is his passion. He says that “reading and writing poetry is my force of living – the bond I have with life – to keep me moving forward.”
If you wish to read, please sign up via email:
Like the Poetry contest, Open Mic Night got its start at Allied Arts. The event was initiated in 2005 by local poet Elaine Smith. Then encouraged by the former Allied Arts director Elizabeth Herres Miller and her successor Jessica Moskwa. They felt a monthly forum where local poets could read original work would complement the annual contest. They were right.
Poets Claire Carpenter, Dotty Armstrong, Chuck Forster, Rod Nelson, Linda Brown, Ed Stover, Elaine Smith, and Mark Fuzie have kept Open Mic alive.
Open Mic Night was popular at the outset and remains so as a program now run by the Yakima Coffeehouse Poets. Come read a poem and meet your fellow Yakima poets.