In Gallery Events

Confluence Poets Present Festivus December 14, 5PM at The Confluence: Art in Twisp

In a twist on holiday readings past, the Confluence Poets will be observing Festivus this year, providing an alternative to December’s customary trappings of candlelight and goodwill.

It’s hard to imagine a time before Festivus. Who among us doesn’t look forward to the annual appearance of the festive aluminum pole? The grievances, the feats of strength, the miracles? The eating of meatloaf on a bed of lettuce?

But this holiday of holidays, at just 28 years old, is relatively young compared to Kwanzaa (59), Christmas (a little under 2000), Hanukkah (a little over 2000), and Winter Solstice (a little over 12,000). What it brings, if not time-honored tradition, is an opportunity for those of us who don’t fit neatly into the other seasonal observances to celebrate in our own way.

Festivus was introduced to the world on December 18, 1997, as a side plot in the Seinfeld episode “The Strike.” But its soft release was in the childhood home of Seinfeld writer Dan O’Keefe, invented by O’Keefe’s eccentric father. The original O’Keefe version of Festivus had little in common with the made-for-TV version; it was far weirder and evidently a source of embarrassment for Dan rather than good cheer. Like many other artifacts from last century, “The Strike” hasn’t aged impeccably. But Festivus lives on. For all we know, it’ll give Winter Solstice a run for its money.

The Confluence Poets’ free, Festivus-themed holiday reading will be held at The Confluence: Art in Twisp on Sunday, December 14 at 5 p.m. Participating poets include Subhaga Crystal Bacon, Jon Culp, Jim Ditto, Rebekah Jensen, Christine Kendall, Kendall Lamb, Merry Maxwell, Mitch McCarrell, Tracy Miller, Eileen “Sam” Owen, and Brooke Williams. Light refreshments will be provided, possibly including meatloaf.