Open Mic - Yakima Coffeehouse Poets

With the COVID-19 situation, our in-person Open Mic Night meetings were temporarily derailed. However, we want to keep our poetry community engaged so we offer options! Keep reading…

The Yakima Coffeehouse Poets presents Open Mic Night on the second Wednesday of each month, September through May, usually held at the Larson Gallery, YVCC Campus.
Starting in April, our Open Mic meetings have a choice — via ZOOM™ OR IN PERSON at the new Larson Gallery!
(Across the street from the old Larson Gallery)
Please bring proof of vaccination and a mask.

Next Open Mic is scheduled for
Wednesday, February 8, 2023,
7:00pm.
Hosted by: Rod “Kenny” Nelson

Rod Nelson is a spoken word poet residing in Yakima. He grew up in Selah and, with the exception of his education in Seattle, has lived in the Yakima Valley most of his life. He has won the YVCC Black Box Poetry Slam. He has also been the first place finisher in the LitFuse Poetry Slam for several years. His poetry has appeared in the Yakima Herald-Republic, as well as the Shrub-Steppe Poetry Journal. His poem, “A Note from Mallory’s Progeny,” received honorable mention in the Yakima Coffeehouse Poetry Contest and was published in the YCP’s contest chapbook. Videos of his poems can be viewed on his website: kennynelsonpoetry.com.

Rod “Kenny” Nelson is a spoken word poet residing in Yakima. He grew up in Selah and, with the exception of his education in Seattle, has lived in the Yakima Valley most of his life. He has won the YVCC Black Box Poetry Slam. He has also been the first place finisher in the LitFuse Poetry Slam for several years. His poetry has appeared in the Yakima Herald-Republic, as well as the Shrub-Steppe Poetry Journal. His poem, “A Note from Mallory’s Progeny,” received honorable mention in the Yakima Coffeehouse Poetry Contest and was published in the YCP’s contest chapbook. Videos of his poems can be viewed on his website: kennynelsonpoetry.com.

You can now attend Open Mic via ZOOM™ OR IN PERSON!
In person is at the new Larson Gallery, 1606 W. Nob Hill Blvd.
When we gather together in person, masks are optional.

Otherwise, a ZOOM™ link will be circulated by email the day before the event
for those of you who want to attend virtually.
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.