News

September 2026

We’re thrilled share this year’s festival line-up with you. It’s our biggest year ever with over 150 writers from California, Oregon, Idaho, and Minnesota joining us on Saturday, October 3rd from noon to 5:00 PM PDT in Fresno’s Tower District. See the full schedule now.

And remember to join us on Friday, September 18, 2026, for a special conversation with LitHop co-founders, Fresno poets laureate, literary luminaries, and local partners about building stronger communities through the literary arts. Moderated by KVPR Central Valley Daily host Soreath Hok.

All LitHop events are free and open to the public, and made possible through Measure P funding.

May 2026

Thank you for submitting your reading proposals for our upcoming 10th season of LitHop in Fresno’s historic Tower District!

The open reading period has now closed. This year’s deadline to submit reading proposals was May 15, 2026, by 11:59 PM PDT, through our online form. Proposals accepted for LitHop 2026 will be notified via email from lithopfresno@gmail.com by June 15, 2026.

LitHop will take place on Saturday, October 3, 2026. Times and schedules will be posted prior to the event date.

March 2026

LitHop celebrates its 10th anniversary this Saturday, October 3, 2026!

LitHop returns to Fresno’s historic Tower District on Saturday, October 3, 2026, with FREE live readings featuring over a hundred writers of all ages and genres. We are currently accepting proposals for readings through our Google Form from March 15-May 15, 2026. (Visit our FAQs for instructions, then submit your proposal here.)

Accepted reading proposals will be notified by lithopfresno@gmail.com by June 15, 2026.

September 2024

The LitHop 2024 Schedule has been posted with bios and FAQs!

We can’t wait to see you on Saturday, October 12, 2024, in Fresno for a full day of literary discoveries (and impromptu social gatherings, literary salons, and afterparties!). Find your readings by the hour from the top menu. Locate your author bio, find your reading’s venue location, and get the answers for your burning questions (plus a few local business recommendations) in our updated FAQ page.

If you didn’t find what you were looking for or if you’d like to suggest a correction, please email us at info@lithopfresno.org.

May 2024

Joseph Rios Becomes Director of LitHop 2024

We are excited to welcome Joseph Rios as the fifth Director of LitHop. We are fortunate to have him. Joseph is one of Fresno's most vocal literary advocates, a stellar poet, and American Book Award winner. Joseph Rios is the Poet Laureate for the city of Fresno and a Stegner Fellow at Stanford University. He is the author of Shadowboxing: Poems & Impersonations, winner of the American Book Award. His poems can be found at The Rumpus, Poem-a-Day, Huizache, The San Francisco Chronicle, and on the Metro in Los Angeles.

Appreciation to Previous Director Andrea Mele

LitHop is grateful for the hard work, leadership, and vision of previous Director Andrea Mele, who will be focusing her commitment to arts projects and communities through work as Program Manager at the Fresno Arts Council. Andrea moved LitHop into positive new directions in meaningful, sustainable ways that increased our capacity to serve the community more effectively. Thank you for your brilliance and dedication to LitHop, Andrea!