Join us this fall for an enriching cultural experience that explores the life and work of C. S. Lewis through collaborations by the arts, education, and faith communities. Festival events are held in Petoskey in beautiful Northern Michigan.
C.S. Lewis Festival Release Agreement & Liability Waiver
Help us kick off the Festival weekend with a screening of Tolkien & Lewis: Myth, Imagination & The Quest for Meaning. Our weekend theme focuses on “Remember Your Fairy Tales: Finding Hope with Lewis & Tolkien,” and this documentary will set the tone! Plus, we’ll have opening remarks by documentary producer and Festival Co-founder David Crouse.
Come enjoy a pint and have Dr. Malcolm Guite sign copies of his books at Beards Brewery in downtown Petoskey!
Bring your Malcolm Guite books or purchase a copy at the event. A limited number of books, provided by McLean & Eakin, will be for sale on-site.
Join us for an evening celebrating youth art!
Student artwork will be on display, with student poetry readings and monologues presented on stage, and musical performances by Bobbee Pennington and The Wildflower Collective accompanied by a live on-stage painting by artist Megan Genevieve, inspired by C.S. Lewis.
Plus, the first 100 students through the door receive a copy of The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis!
*Ticketing Note: Tickets for the Community Arts Night will be processed through Great Lakes Center for the Arts. Adult tickets (19+) are Pay-What-You-Can, with a $5 minimum. Student tickets (0–18) are free, but registration is required because seats are limited.
Megan Genevieve is a wildlife and landscape artist who is inspired by observation and motivated by emotion. Megan uses her skills as an artist to capture life with paint and brush. “Every day I see art” defines her positive attitude toward the world around her and allows her to embrace beauty in all moments. For more information about Megan and her work, visit www.megangart.com.
The painting Megan completes on stage during the Community Arts Night will be available through a silent auction, with bidding going through the Keynote Address on Saturday, October 3, at Great Lakes Center for the Arts. Bidders will be able to place bids in the lobby during the Friday and Saturday Festival events.
Bobbee Pennington writes songs and poetry inspired by life experiences, family stories, and books she loves. Born in Michigan in 1954, Bobbee now lives in Texas and is a member of the Tejas Storytelling Guild. Her musical genre is alternative folk/acoustic/singer/songwriter/ and she plays modal guitar, slide guitar, clawhammer banjo, and dulcimer. Before retiring in 2019, Bobbee taught in schools for over 25 years and served as the children’s librarian and storyteller with the Bryan Public Library in Texas. In addition to her music, she volunteers as managing director of the nonprofit Brazos Valley Literacy Coalition, which trains volunteer tutors to teach adults to read.
The Wildflower Collective is a Northern Michigan ensemble of three young musicians — Grace (15) on piano and vocals, Aurora (13) on violin, and Karlie (15) on guitar — two sisters and a cousin who have spent years studying their instruments and now love sharing their music together. Their repertoire weaves through classical pieces, beloved folk tunes, worship favorites, and familiar popular songs, with something to delight every listener. With the polish of dedicated practice and the warmth and joy that only young performers can bring, an evening with The Wildflower Collective is sure to leave you smiling.
The seminar’s three sessions include talks with Griffin Gooch and A.S. “Pete” Peterson, a short film screening, and a table reading involving attendees, Pete, and Keynote Speaker Malcolm Guite. Lunch, catered by Julienne Tomatoes, will be served during the Saturday Seminar.
Join us for a Festival send-off event in the Reycraft Room at Hotel Perry in Downtown Petoskey!
Coffee with the Co-founder is an intimate opportunity to connect with other donors, sponsors, and admirers of C.S. Lewis’ work while hearing the C.S. Lewis Festival’s founding story from its co-founder and president, David Crouse.
This limited-capacity event includes coffee and pastries in the historically rich Reycraft Room, with C.S. Lewis Festival Board Members & staff in attendance. This is your chance to learn more about the nonprofit organization and how to get more involved with its year-round programming and the 2027 Festival!
During this event, you will have the chance to speak one-on-one with co-founder David Crouse, peruse Festival-related books for sale provided by McLean & Eakin, and get the inside scoop on the 2027 Festival theme and keynote speaker.
We hope to see you there as we bid farewell to the 24th C.S. Lewis Festival!