Brooklyn Caribbean Literary Festival (BCLF) kicks off this weekend with a packed schedule of established and emerging writers for the inaugural event.

The festival will host a number of writers, narrators and other performance artists from the diaspora representing countries including Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti, Jamaica, Barbados and more.

“This new festival promises to celebrate through the voice of the poet and the pen of the writer, Caribbean oral and written storytelling, in its diverse forms, nuanced by culture, language, colonization, and history,” said a release from the festival.

The 3-day festival has a rich program filled with readings, panels, music-themed conversations and more, starting with a Lunchtime Conversation with award-winning writer Barbara Jenkins on Friday, September 6 and culminating with a burst of Caribbean celebration at The Griot – a part of The Gayelle – on Sunday, September 8.

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THE GAYELLE – Stories, Music, Culture, Art⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ It's the BCLF’s final day open air celebration of Caribbean culture at The Plaza at 300 Ashland⁣ on Sunday September 8th⁣ ⁣⁣ Come experience performances, browse and buy at our food & craft market, and shop the collections of the BCLF authors at our bookseller partners.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Best of all, all children can participate in a dance & movement session, and interactive storytelling event with Caribbean literature. Face-painting, wire bending with Master Dreamweaver and more!⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Events at the Gayelle:⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ – Children’s Reading: The Carnival Prince by Daniel J. O’Brien⁣ @the_basement_monster ⁣ ⁣ – Tales From Around the Caribbean: Assortment of stories read by writers & actors of the region⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ – Children’s Reading: Guest children’s author⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ – BCLF Reading with guest author, Kei Miller and hosted by Kela Nnarka Francis⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ – Children’s Reading: Callaloo Kids Puppets & Reading⁣ @marjuancanady @callalookidsofficial ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ – Craftmaking with Master Dreamweaver ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ – The Mini Movers Project (dance & movement for kids)⁣ @minimoversproject ⁣ ⁣ – The Griot: Cultural performances of storytelling and music⁣⁣ ⁣ Artwork by @jahmarro ⁣.⁣ .⁣ .⁣ #BCLF2019 #BCLF #WeTellTales #Caribbean #ReadCaribbean #CaribbeanLiterature #Literature #Books #Book #Reading #WritersofInstagram #DiasporaTingz #Love #Bookstagram #Poetry #Booklover #Writing #Read #Author #Writer #Reader #IGreads #Travel #Island #Islandlife

A post shared by Brooklyn Caribbean Lit Fest (@bklyncbeanlitfest) on Aug 19, 2019 at 8:59am PDT

The festival’s events will take place at various iconic Brooklyn locations including the Center for Fiction and the Brooklyn Historical Society in Brooklyn. It is free to the general public and supported by the Brooklyn Borough President, Eric Adams.

To see the full schedule, list of authors and register for events, visit the BCLF website.