The Waterville Opera House is pleased to host the state finals of Maine’s 2025 Poetry Out Loud series.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Poetry Out Loud®, a transformative arts education program that has reached over four million high school students since 2005. Poetry Out Loud connects students, educators, and communities by celebrating poetry through recitation and performance, helping participants develop public speaking skills and a deeper appreciation for literature.

With access to an anthology of 1,200 classic and contemporary poems, students explore themes from literary history to modern life. Competitions begin in the classroom, advancing to state and national levels, with finalists competing for a grand prize of $20,000. Poetry Out Loud offers over $100,000 in annual awards for winners and their schools.

Cost: Free and open to the public