Step Inside the Traveling Stanzas Poetry Makerspace at Buckeye Book Fair

Update: We’re sorry to share that the Wick Poetry Center’s Traveling Stanzas Mobile Makerspace will not be at this year’s Buckeye Book Fair due to unexpected mechanical issues. While we’ll miss this inspiring, creative space, we look forward to welcoming it back to a future event where readers and writers can once again experience the joy of poetry and self-expression.

This year’s Buckeye Book Fair, held on Saturday, November 1, is more than a celebration of books; it’s a celebration of creativity in all its forms. One of the most exciting additions to this year’s event is the Wick Poetry Center’s Traveling Stanzas Poetry Makerspace, a one-of-a-kind mobile unit designed to inspire self-expression and connect people through the power of words.

The Poetry Makerspace is the first of its kind in the country, a fully refurbished recreational vehicle, originally donated to the Wick Poetry Center by WKSU, that has been transformed into a vibrant, interactive poetry lab. With this innovative design, the Wick Poetry Center has put wheels on their award-winning Traveling Stanzas program, extending its reach to schools, libraries, hospitals, and community centers across Ohio. Now, visitors to the Buckeye Book Fair will have the rare chance to experience this creative hub firsthand.

Inside the Makerspace, participants of all ages are invited to explore hands-on writing activities that encourage imagination, reflection, and connection. Guests can try out digital expressive writing tools, respond to creative prompts, or craft their own poetry at interactive kiosks both inside the vehicle and around its exterior stations. Whether you’re a seasoned poet or simply curious about putting words to the page, the Poetry Makerspace makes the art of poetry approachable and inspiring.

Visitors can expect a warm, welcoming space that showcases not only the beauty of poetry but also the beauty of community. Each contribution becomes part of a larger collective story—highlighting the voices, ideas, and experiences of participants from all walks of life.

Thanks to the generosity of Giving Tuesday donors and countless supporters who believe in the transformative power of poetry, the Wick Poetry Center is able to bring this imaginative and interactive experience to events like the Buckeye Book Fair.

So when you visit on November 1, make time to stop at the Traveling Stanzas Poetry Makerspace. Step inside, pick up a pen—or a digital stylus—and let your imagination lead the way. You may just discover the poet within yourself.

The Buckeye Book Fair is Saturday, November 1, 2025 in Wooster, Ohio at Greystone Event Center.