Poetry festival this weekend

The Skagit River Poetry Festival kicks off tomorrow, Thursday, with a fundraising dinner followed by a literary show with Tom Robbins and Sherman Alexie.

Dinner is at Maple Hall in La Conner from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and will feature local cuisine with poets seated at every table. Tickets are $100.

After dinner, from 8 to 10 p.m., author Tom Robbins and poet Sherman Alexie are scheduled to take the stage at the La Conner Elementary School gym for an entertaining evening of wit and wordplay. The evening event is $40.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday are filled with workshops and readings at various ven...