Our 2026 Kickass Writers Festival was a huge success and we thank everyone who participated, supported, volunteered, and cheerleaded to make this our biggest and most kickass event yet.
We had a staggering 685 registrations and an audience total of over 1,200 people. Saranac Lake was teeming with writers and readers all weekend, many festival attendees stayed the entire week to take advantage of our lovely town to write and rest after an event filled festival.
Friday evening’s kickoff reading with Mahogany L. Browne and Kevin Wilson was inspiring and delightful. The following day was packed with writing workshops, publishing advice, agent meetings, our very popular speed dating, and a bookfair. Later in the afternoon we presented a showcase of readings with local authors including Robin Caudel, Craig Milewski, Curt Stager, Steve Stern, and Matt Witten and hosted by Marilyn McCabe. The room was filled, with many sitting on the floor.
Next came the keynote with Robin Kimmerer, which was simply transformational. As one attendee described it, “being fall-down awed by the goddess Kimmerer.” The audience of 565 gave her a standing ovation, it was a beautiful moment we don’t think anyone will forget soon.
The only way to cap off such an incredible festival was with a comedy performance with Milan Patel, who filled the Pendragon Theater. Patel’s sharp wit and insights had the audience rolling.
My personal favorite moments were many but some stand outs were from witnessing the faculty enjoying the festival as much as the attendees. I loved seeing LA comedian Milan Patel attend not only the speed dating, but also Kimmerer’s talk and then reference it in his set that took place an hour later. Seeing Kevin Wilson sitting in the audience of the local authors showcase, clearly enjoying the readings was so heartwarming and having Robin Kimmerer front row center at Milan’s comedy show was a hoot. Editor Wendy Naugle even asked me to let her sneak into Kevin Wilson’s workshop after hearing him read. The faculty were all openly fawning over each other, how exciting for me that I was able to bring them all together in Saranac Lake.
But of course, my favorite part of Kickass was the sense of joy and community that was palpable throughout the entire festival, even with such an enormous crowd. We’ve had an outpouring of gratitude from the festival-goers, as an attendee put it: “An absolute home run for anyone who reads, writes, speaks, and breathes!”