Date Posted: September 1, 2026
Meet Meg: creator, producer, and director of Poe in Lowell! While clearly defined by the literary contributions of Edgar Allan Poe, Poe in Lowell is equally defined by the unshakeable talents and supports of its local community—unarguably the most rewarding aspect of celebrating Poe, according to Meg in our most recent connection with her.
1) How did Poe in Lowell start in Lowell?
Edgar Allan Poe visited Lowell three times between 1848 and 1849, and these visits, like much of Poe’s life, leave us with a swirl of history, mystery, folklore and fantastical spirits.
Poe in Lowell’s beginnings date back to October 1995, with a single-night’s event, “The Edgar Allan Poe Show,” with poetry, live music, and a goth pageant. Over the years, I held several similar events, and in 2023, held the first annual virtual Poe Birthday Bash, with readings from Poe’s poems including “The Raven.” The year 2024 marked the first annual Poe in Lowell festival, a weekend filled with live music, readings from Poe’s short stories and poems, a Poe Pop-Up Shop, and a screening of Roger Corman’s adaptation of “The Raven.” The year 2025 marked the second annual Poe in Lowell festival, and it keeps growing!
2) Could you describe the team that organizes the festival?
Along with myself are an amazing array of volunteers, including from Poe in Lowell’s friends and literary partner, Lowell Celebrates Kerouac! In addition, many volunteers give their strengths and talents to specific events and programs. Poe in Lowell, like many community organizations, is blessed with the collaboration of numerous cultural organizations and independent businesses, supporting and hosting many of Poe in Lowell’s events.
3) What resources or tips do you have for other organizers of festivals and events in Lowell?
Think about your vision, what resources it might need, and organize a plan. It’s OK for the plan to evolve and change, because you will learn things along the way to make your event stronger. Connect with people of a kindred spirit; additionally, you will meet people along the way with different backgrounds, who can bring something important to your event. Community organizations in Lowell work and grow in part because we help each other and support each other. Engage as you can with other community events; help in ways that you can. Even if an event starts with the vision of a single person, no single person can do it all. Give the love, the respect, the props to everyone whose energy and dedication is making that event possible—both before, during and after. Volunteers stay and persist when they know their efforts are seen, appreciated and respected.
Remember to eat something. Drink water. Rest when you need, and make sure everyone on the team is doing this, too. No event runs on steam alone. Your event is only as good as the wellbeing of everyone.
4) What is the most rewarding aspect of organizing Poe in Lowell?
That so many people, community leaders, organizers, volunteers and visionaries, many with their own events and visions, are Lowell’s true mosaic. The people who have said how participating in Poe in Lowell showed them their power. Those are the moments that have given back strength and illuminated the mission of Poe in Lowell.
5) Social Media and Upcoming Events for Poe in Lowell:
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Email us at info@mosaiclowell.org! Mosaic Lowell posts Community Spotlights with the goal of highlighting artists, crafters, performers, supportive patrons, creative businesses and vendors in the Lowell community. Community Spotlights are posted on Mosaic Lowell’s blog, newsletter, Facebook, and Instagram.