• about billy collins
• about the festival
• workshop authors
• workshop sign-ups
• open-mic night
• writing contest

About the Highland Park Literary Festival

In 1995, the Highland Park Literary Festival was born from a collaboration between interested parents and the English Department of Highland Park High School in Dallas. For a dozen years, HPHS students have enjoyed meeting, working with, and learning from distinguished writers, including George Plimpton, Doug Wright, Michael Chabon, Marion Winik, Scott Simon, Tim O'Brien, Russell Banks, Anchee Min, and this year's festival keynote speaker, Billy Collins.

At the heart of the festival are almost 100 workshops between students and accomplished novelists, journalists, poets, songwriters, and playwrights. Also, at a student-run open-mic night, students perform their own works.

Finally, the festival offers an evening of readings and conversation with our keynote speaker that is free and open to the public. Please make plans to hear our 2009 keynote speaker, former U.S. Poet Laureate, Billy Collins, on Wednesday, February 11 at Highland Park High School. (A map is here.

The Highland Park Literary Festival gratefully acknowledges the support of La Fiesta de las Seis Banderas, HP Arts, the Highland Park High School PTA, and generous individual donors.