George appears onstage with Garrison Keillor on A Prairie Home Companion.
“Tracing the arc of the baby boomer generation from cradle to grave, Bilgere’s poems paint a picture of American life that is equal parts sadness, matter-of-factness, and hilarity.”
—Dorianne Laux
“Bilgere is a damn good poet.”
—Edward Field
Readings
George has given readings and workshops at the Library of Congress, the Town Hall Theater in New York as a guest on A Prairie Home Companion, the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC, the 92nd Street Y in New York, the Philip Larkin Library in Hull, England, and at universities, libraries, and arts centers around the country.
2026 Upcoming Appearances
May 21, 2026
The Cleveland Academy of Poetry & Letters
Music Box Supper Club
A Fundraiser for Cleveland Public Library
The Power of Words is an evening of Clevelanders sharing favorite parts from favorite texts. Cleveland Public Library is honored to be the recipient of proceeds generated from this special night together.
September 23, 2026
Blue Raven Gallery
374 Main Street, Rockland, Maine
The Blue Raven Poetry Series is a live, public poetry reading held at the Blue Raven Gallery in Rockland, Maine, curated by poet Bruce Willard.
Recent Events
April 17–18, 2026
Latrobe Poetry Neighborhood & National Poetry Month Celebration
Latrobe Art Center
Latrobe, Pennsylvania
Poetry Reading and “Rants & Odes”: A Poetry Workshop
March 25–26, 2026
Ohio University Spring Literary Festival
Ohio University
Athens Campus
Spring Literary Festival 2026 features renowned authors George Bilgere, Hala Alyan, and Jeff VanderMeer.
February 7, 2026
The Poetry Box Zoom Reading:
Chapbook Winners of 2025
Shawn Aveningo Sanders hosts the winning poets John Arthur, Katie Dozier, John Wojtowicz, and Contest Judge George Bilgere.
November 3–4, 2025
Oklahoma City University
Since 1999 this annual series has brought a nationally renowned, award-winning poet to the Oklahoma City University campus.
October 17, 2025
Turning Toward Grief: An Online Poetry Retreat
Zoom Webinar
Hosted by James Crews
September 26–28, 2025
South Dakota Festival of Books
The South Dakota Humanities Council
Spearfish, South Dakota
The 23rd annual event is the state’s premier literary event.
April 11–12, 2025
Hocking Hills Festival of Poetry
Lancaster, Ohio
April 19, 2025
Poets in the Conversation Room Series
St. John’s College presents the series Poets in the Conversation Room hosted by renowned poet, author, playwright, and tenth Maryland Poet Laureate Grace Cavalieri.