The Elk River Writers Workshop culminates with its annual Gala, a big night of socializing, music and a fundraising auction at the Chico Hot Springs Convention Center on Thursday, August 17, at 6 p.m. Tickets for this special event are now on sale, and include hearty appetizers, a cash bar, and a full night of entertainment.
Attendees will have an opportunity to meet the workshop faculty, consisting of some of the nation’s premiere writers: Debra Magpie Earling, Jamie Ford, Sean Hill, Laura Pritchett and Sean Singer, whose books will be available for sale. Acclaimed author and cultural ornithologist J. Drew Lanham will give the keynote presentation, and award-winning comedian, musician and author Rich Hall will serve as the celebrity auctioneer. Live music by Ian Thomas & the Band of Drifters rounds out the evening.
Lanham is a 2022 MacArthur Fellow, a Clemson University Master Teacher, Alumni Distinguished Professor and Provost’s Professor in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation. The author of The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man’s Love Affair with Nature and Sparrow Envy: Poems, he is a past board member of the National Audubon Society, Aldo Leopold Foundation, the American Birding Association and BirdNote.
Hall is a multi-award-winning comedian, musician and author. He wrote for David Letterman and appeared frequently as a guest. He was also a cast member and writer for “Saturday Night Live,” “Fridays” and “Not Necessarily The News.” He tours extensively and appears frequently on British television. He has also written and presented ten highly acclaimed documentaries for BBC Four, including “How the West Was Lost” and “Countrier Than You.” His is the author of the memoir Nailing It: Tales from the Comedy Frontier.
The auction, with both silent and live portions, features one-of-a-kind works of art, a variety of adventure packages and vacation getaways, literary items and services and other treasures. Some highlights include a Livingston Love package with everything needed for an unforgettable visit, a gorgeous stay in Escalante, Utah and a handmade quilt by workshop director CMarie Fuhrman. Proceeds from the auction support the programs of Elk River Arts & Lectures, including workshop scholarships for students in need, especially those from under-represented communities.
Tickets are $25, and are available at Elk River Books, 122 S. 2nd Street, or online here.
Elk River Arts & Lectures is a nonprofit organization dedicated to cultivating and celebrating the literary arts in Park County. For more information, visit elkriverarts.org.
