Highlighted Community Event - 

William Stafford Peace Festival: A Weekend of Community & Connection
Join us in Twisp on Saturday and Sunday, September 19-20, 2026, for the William Stafford
Peace Festival, a community-wide celebration in commemoration of International Peace Day
and in celebration of the 10th anniversary of William Stafford poetry readings in the Methow
Valley. Presented by Root.ED Nature School with the Confluence Poets, this weekend honors
the legacy of pacifist poet William Stafford. Nationally renowned for his philosophical insight and
meditations on the natural world, Stafford established an enduring local connection through one
of the last writing projects of his life: the Methow River Poems, seven of which have been
inscribed on plaques scattered throughout the Methow Valley.

In addition to the annual William Stafford Poetry Reading, the weekend will feature community
events ranging from the peaceful protest along Highway 20 to peace flag-making and a peace
sing-along at the TwispWorks Pavilion, to a nature walk and storytelling circle for families at the
Methow Valley Native Garden. Whether you are joining in to write or draw what peace means to
you—near the Stafford poem plaque in Twisp Park or at Methow Arts—or finding stillness in a
peaceful meditation at Y’all’s Yoga Studio, this event is a heartfelt invitation to gather together
and "wage sustainable peace" across our community.

The festival features a diverse schedule of free events across downtown Twisp, including a
community conversation on choosing hope, a practical talk on pledging peace, and a lively
discussion of William Stafford’s poetry. The weekend will culminate in the William Stafford
Poetry Celebration on Sunday at 3 pm at The Confluence: Art in Twisp. This event includes a
keynote by philosopher John K. Roth, author of Saving the American Dream, and brief remarks
on the William Stafford poetry plaques by Sheela McLean, former U.S. Forest Service ranger
who co-led the Methow River Poems project. The celebration will also feature poetry by the
Confluence Poets and local students as well as musical performances by Lynette Westendorf
and Ken Bevis. Local favorites like Orchard House will offer "Peace Menus" to keep the
community nourished throughout the weekend.

The festival was conceived by Cindy Williams Gutiérrez, Confluence Poet co-founder and
producer of the Methow’s annual William Stafford Poetry Reading. Excited by the festival’s
legacy, she said, “The 10th anniversary of the Stafford reading was the spark for this year’s
festival. Partnering with Root.ED Nature School will keep the festival thriving in our community
for years to come.”

For a full schedule of activities and program and partner locations—including The Confluence:
Art in Twisp, Methow Arts, Methow Valley Community Center, Methow Valley Native Garden,
TwispWorks, WellSpring and Y’all’s Yoga—please visit www.rooted-nature.org or
www.confluencepoets.com.