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Emily Dickinson Poetry Marathon
 The Emily Dickinson Museum in Amherst, Massachusetts, will once again sponsor two popular fall programs--the annual Poetry Marathon and the Emily Dickinson Baking Contest on one eventful Saturday, September 24. Poetry readers and Dickinson fans of any age are invited to join the daylong marathon reading of all 1,789 poems by Emily Dickinson. The annual event, sponsored by the Emily Dickinson Museum, begins at 7 a.m. on September 24 at the Dickinson Homestead and continues until the last poem is read at approximately 11 p.m. Readers of all ages and interests are welcome to participate in the free event as a reader, a listener, or both. Stay for just a single poem or join us for the entire day.
"Whether you're a longtime Emily Dickinson fan or someone hoping to experience her work for the first time, the marathon is the perfect chance to engage with Dickinson's poetry in the place where she composed it," said Cindy Dickinson, Director of Interpretation and Programming at the Museum. "This annual event attracts poets, writers, journalists, children, college students, families, teachers, poetry lovers, and even people who thought they didn't like poetry. It's an excellent opportunity to become freshly connected to Dickinson's work."
All readers receive a special marathon bib, just like participants in road races and other sporting events! Readers who arrive at the Museum between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. will receive a "coffee break" special--a discount coupon for The Black Sheep Deli. Readers who arrive between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. will receive a "pick-me-up" special--a discount at Bart's Ice Cream.
The text used for the marathon is The Poetry of Emily Dickinson, Reading Edition, ed. R. W. Franklin (1999), published by Harvard University Press. A limited number of copies are available for marathon readers to share. Participants may also bring their own copy or purchase one in the Museum's shop.
Greg Mattingly, a devoted participant of past marathons, says, "Don't just read Emily Dickinson, join in the Marathon and experience her!" For information on how you can participate as a reader in the marathon, please e-mail csdickinson@emilydickinsonmuseum.org.
Emily Dickinson Baking Contest
 Emily Dickinson was well-known among friends and family for her baked goods. She even won second place (and 50 cents) for her Rye and Indian Bread in the 1856 Amherst Cattle Show.
In the spirit of her success, the Emily Dickinson Museum is sponsoring its second annual baking contest. Entrants may choose to make one or more of the following recipes:
- Gingerbread (Youth and Adult categories)
- Coconut Cake (Youth and Adult categories)
- Black Cake (Adult category)
- Rye and Indian Bread (Adult category)
Contest rules and recipes for all four categories are available in a downloadable PDF from the Museum's website www.EmilyDickinsonMuseum.org/baking. Bakers should complete the online Intention to Enter form (at the web address above) by Thursday, September 22. Entries must be delivered between noon and 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 24. Prizes will be awarded at 4 p.m. Prizes include Emily Dickinson Museum aprons. Second-place winners will also receive 50 cents just like the poet.
First Annual Friends Day
Friends of the Emily Dickinson Museum enjoy their first annual members gathering since the establishment of the Museum's membership program last fall. Special Friends activities include morning and afternoon marathon hours anchored by Museum members, a behind-the-scenes lunch and conversation with the executive director, and opportunities to discuss selected Dickinson poems with poet John Hennessy and Dickinson biographer Polly Longsworth. To participate in these and future Friends-only programs, join online at www.EmilyDickinsonMuseum.org/membership or by calling 413-542-5084.
About the Museum
On September 24, the Museum will be open for guided tours during its regular hours, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This same day is National Museum Day, an annual event hosted by Smithsonian magazine in which participating museums across the country admit anyone presenting a "Museum Day Ticket" for free. See www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday for details and to print your ticket.
The Emily Dickinson Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, March through December.
For a complete list of the Museum's 2011 programming and special events, visit www.EmilyDickinsonMuseum.org.The Emily Dickinson Museum, comprising the Dickinson Homestead and The Evergreens, is devoted to the story and legacy of poet Emily Dickinson and her family. Both properties are owned by the Trustees of Amherst College. The Museum is overseen by a separate Board of Governors charged with raising its operating and capital funds. The Homestead was the birthplace and residence of the poet (1830-1886). The Evergreens was the home of the poet's brother and sister-in-law, Austin and Susan Dickinson. The Emily Dickinson Museum is located at 280 Main Street in Amherst.
The Museum is a member of Museums10, a consortium of ten Pioneer Valley museums forged to celebrate the collections and promote the programs of its affiliated museums to local, regional, and national visitors.
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