On Saturday, April 25, Hayward’s Lit Hop will bounce back for another year! I’ve been attending the Lit Hop for the last several years, and I’m only embarrassed I didn’t make it out the first year or two the event was running. Since I write about so many long-running community events for Tri-City Voice, it feels special to me that I can remember when the Lit Hop got started. Back in 2022, a group decided to do an East Bay version of San Francisco’s “Lit Crawl,” and the “Hop” has been growing ever since.
The event not only brings together local writers and readers, people also get the chance to visit small businesses around downtown Hayward. After the kickoff at the Downtown Hayward Library Heritage Plaza, attendees break off to follow readings that spark their interest. Past venues have included Dirty Bird Lounge, the Oddfellows Lodge and Books on B. Buying snacks is inevitable.
This year, I’m trying something new. For the first time, the Hop will have a section for journalists, and Tri-City Voice will participate! If you stop by Storybook at 4pm, you can hear me and a few other writers read our articles. I’m happy this type of writing is being included. Even though it’s my day job, journalism does take a lot of craft, and I also try to find ways to express myself through my reporting.
I hope some readers will make it out to the Hop—and not only for the TCV section. There are so many fun groups! Horror writers, student writers, Afrosurreal writers and even bilingual Spanish / English writers. If you stay after 5pm you may also catch me reading again with another group, sharing some writing that’s a lot more fanciful than local news…
Hayward Lit Hop
Saturday, Apr. 25
2-8pm
Downtown Hayward
haywardlithop.com
