The Woollahra Library & Information Service is proud to announce the details of the 22nd Annual Poets' Picnic.

This is a free community event to be held under the stars in the beautiful Blackburn Gardens, 548 New South Head Road, Double Bay.

This years’ theme is ‘Playing the Fool’, and will see playful, pithy, comical and cheeky twilight readings by some of Australia’s most respected poets, beloved performers and exciting new talent, as well as plucky local school children.

The ABC’s Simon Marnie is set to host the line up of local, national and international talent including Vince Sorrenti, Eileen Chong, Adrian Wiggins, Lindsay Tuggle, Sandra Murray, Mike Simms and Miles Merrill. The event will embrace bush poetry, comic verse, slam poetry performance, a chalk poetry workshop for children and more!

The Poets' Picnic, which takes place every February, is a free twilight poetry reading in the Blackburn Gardens next to the Double Bay Central Library. This popular annual event features poetry readings by well known readers and local high school students. The community is invited to bring a rug and enjoy a picnic with their poetry.

A famous quote from William Shakespeare’s play The Merchant of Venice inspired the theme for the evening - ‘Let me play the fool’.

Residents and visitors are invited to pack a picnic, grab a rug and find a spot on the lawn to enjoy twilight readings by prominent Australian poets, writers and local school children.

The Poets’ Picnic will start at 6pm, with live music from 5.30pm. Refreshments will be available for purchase.

In the event of rain, The Poets’ Picnic will be held next to Blackburn Gardens at the Woollahra Council Chambers.

For enquiries please phone the Woollahra Library & Information Service on 9391 7100.