James Baker Hall, Kentucky's poet laureate, and Nikki Finney will join Normandi Ellis, Leatha Kendrick, Frank Messina, Frank X. Walker and several others in the event, to be hosted by Charles Whittington.

July 11, 2002 (Lexington, Ky.) -- Two University of Kentucky English professors will be among numerous Kentucky poets who will read their works at "Poetry in the Park: A Celebration of Kentucky Writers" from 2 to 11 p.m. Saturday, July 20, in Woodland Park.

James Baker Hall, Kentucky's poet laureate, and Nikki Finney will join Normandi Ellis, Leatha Kendrick, Frank Messina, Frank X. Walker and several others in the event, to be hosted by Charles Whittington.

Musical entertainment will be featured throughout the day, including performances by Nashville's Apartment Nine, The Daulies, the Jason Mabry Six and On Tap, among others.

Several Lexington restaurants will provide food. Exhibition booths for various community organizations, non-profits and businesses will be placed in the area.

The event is sponsored by the Society of Underground Poets, WRVG-FM, ACE Weekly, Ad Color, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Lexington Public Library, the Lexington Herald-Leader, Lexington Fayette Urban County Government Division of Parks and Recreation, Mecca, Natasha's Cafe, Signs Now and the UK Women's Studies Program. Funding was provided by the Kentucky Humanities Council Inc. and the National Endowment for the Humanities.