Vallejo is home to an active poetry scene. Vallejo has had three poets laureate, serving as the official poet for the city: Genea Brice (2015-2017), D.L. Lang (2017-2019), and Jeremy Snyder (2020-2023). The program is sponsored by the Vallejo Community Arts Foundation. 

The longest running open mic in Vallejo is Poetry by the Bay, founded in 2008 by Kyrah Ayers, who hosted the program for ten years. It meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays. Historically, it met at the Panama Red coffee shop on the waterfront, the Hub in downtown Vallejo, and the Oddfellows Hall. Since the 2020 pandemic, it has become an online open mic, meeting via Zoom. Since 2018 Poetry by the Bay has been hosted by Jeremy Snyder. Website

Since 2018 Vallejo’s community radio station, KZCT 89.5 FM, hosts the Art Beat Poetry Hour which airs at 10:30 AM on Thursdays. On the 2nd Thursday of the month Literary Dialogues with Nina Serrano is broadcast, featuring interviews with poets. On the 4th Thursday of the month poets are invited into the studio to perform live on the air. Website.

Vallejo is home to the Vallejo Poetry Society, founded in 2018 by Erika Snyder, Daniel Badiali and D.L. Lang. The Vallejo Poetry Society shares publication and performance opportunities with the local poetry community. Website.

The John F. Kennedy branch of the Solano County Library hosts a Poetry Month celebration every year in April, featuring performances and an open mic. They were home to the read around group Poetry in Notion from 2015 to 2020, which was founded by Genea Brice. They also host an annual teen writing competition. Website.

Alibi Bookshop sells books by many local authors, hosts poetry readings, and co-sponsored a Beat poetry festival in 2022. Website

The Solano County Fair, held every summer in Vallejo, has an annual poetry contest, and occasionally features spoken word performers in its entertainment lineup. Website

The Solano County Arts Council has sponsored the Poetry Out Loud competition in the past, giving high school students the opportunity to compete in recitation of famous poems. Website