The fourth annual BARD & Broadside: North Central Florida Poetry Festival is on tap throughout April to celebrate America 250 and National Poetry Month.

The festival, presented by ARTSPEAKgnv, Inc., will take place at multiple venues throughout Gainesville starting on Thursday, April 9, and running through Sunday, April 26. The festival will celebrate 250 years of American independence through poetry.

The month-long poetry festival will feature poetry readings, creative writing workshops, intergenerational poetry activities, storytelling, youth poetry and monologue competitions, open mics, poetry slams, live music and more.

Here is the schedule of events:

• MUSEUM NIGHTS Community Open Mic. 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 9, at UF Harn Museum of Art, Auditorium 3259 Hull Rd.
• WORD SLAY Youth Poetry & Monologue Competition 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, Alachua County Library District Headquarters, 401 E. University Ave.
• POETRY READING Aliesa Zoecklein (WAG) 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 12, at Millhopper Branch Library, 3145 NW 43rd St.
• PROCLAMATION National Poetry Month 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 14, at Alachua County Board of County Commissioners, 12 SE 1st St.
• FREE FRIDAYS CONCERT Poetry & Music 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, April, at Bo Diddley, Plaza 111 E. University Ave.
• SWAMP-BERRY JAM Poetry Slam. 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, at VECINOS, 208 W. University Ave.
• WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS Community Panel Discussion. 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 19, at The Lynx Books, 601 S. Main St.
• WE THE POETS Poetry Reading 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22, at The Lynx Books, 601 S. Main St.
• POETRY at THE PLANETARIUM ASTRONOMICAL WORDS A Cosmic Exploration of Creative Expression Through Poetry 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, April, at Kika Silva Pla Planetarium at Santa Fe College 3000 NW 83rd St.
• SIDNEY WADE Featured Poet Poetry & Creative Writing Workshop 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 26, at Alachua County Library District Headquarters, 401 E. University Ave.
• SIDNEY WADE Featured Poet Poetry Reading & Book Signing 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 26, at Alachua County Library District Headquarters, 401 E. University Ave.