Hullabaloo is BC’s Youth Spoken Word Festival featuring workshops, showcase performances and some of BC’s finest high school-aged poets all sharing work for peers and audiences alike. The festival is a forum where youth tell their stories, explore the issues that matter to them, and connect with poets from across British Columbia to form a community of writers.
School teams come together to compete in slams, learn from workshops, and witness great feature poets. Events at the festival include a two-day poetry slam tournament, mini master classes with professional poets, the ever-popular All Star Slam showcase, and the Hullabaloo Finals with an incredible headlining artist. Schools from around the province are invited to attend.
Registration for new teams begins on November 4th, 2024. Registration is $300 and is non-refundable. Registration includes:
- Participation in a minimum of two, 4-round poetry slam events
- A 2-hour pre-festival workshop with a member of WordPlay Poets
- Tickets for the All Star Slam (plus discounted tickets for other poetry club members)
- Early registration for Adventures in Poetryland workshops, and
- Festival passes for the entire Verses Festival of Words
For Hullabaloo information and requests please contact the Youth Coordinator at wordplay@vancouverpoetryhouse.com.
Hullabaloo 2025
April 10th to 12th
(Event location TBD. Schedule subject to change.)
THURS, APR 10
SPOKEN WORD JAMBOREE – 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Teams gather to pick up packages, get pumped and receive their official welcome to the festival
FRI, APR 11
ALL STAR SLAM – 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Three of Canada’s most dynamic poets compete in a 3-round demo poetry slam with students from the audience judging. FOR TICKET INFO, SEE BELOW!
SLAM ROUND 1 – 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
All Hullabaloo teams in Hullabaloo perform a mix of individual and group performances in poetry slam competitions! Poetry presented with gusto and the enthusiastic support of all attending teams!
SAT, APR 12
ADVENTURES IN POETRYLAND – 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Participating youth can sign up for two out of four mini master classes (50-minute workshops) offered by the Hullabaloo headlining artists.
SLAM ROUND 2 – 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM
All Hullabaloo teams in Hullabaloo perform a mix of individual and group performances in poetry slam competitions! Poetry presented with gusto and the enthusiastic support of all attending teams!
HULLABALOO FINALS – 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM
We begin with the presentation of the Zaccheus Jackson Spirit of the Slam Award and a performance from an incredible headlining artist.
Following a break, the top four teams compete in one last slam to determine the Hullabaloo champion and recipient of the Poe A. Tree Trophy! Or mannequin… the trophy is definitely a mannequin…
All Star Slam Tickets
2025 Hullabaloo All Star Slam tickets on sale Nov 4, 2024!!
Tickets for the 2025 All Star Slam cost $10/student (with teachers/chaperones getting free entry, as always!)
BUT!!
If you book before the end of 2024, you can get your tickets at the Early Bird rate – ONLY $8 per student!!
Miss the Early Bird rate, but booking for a large group (100+)? Take 10% off the total!
Want to know more? Contact the Youth Coordinator at wordplay@vancouverpoetryhouse.com.