Norman does festivals well. Sometimes that means closing down downtown for live music and late nights. Other times, it looks a little quieter. A little more reflective. Just as powerful.
On April 2-3, the Puterbaugh Lit Fest returns to the University of Oklahoma with two days of poetry, music, and global conversation rooted in Persian literature and culture. The festival, hosted by World Literature Today, brings internationally recognized artists to Norman for a series of events that are completely free and open to the public.
A Festival With Global Reach
This year’s featured guest is Haleh Liza Gafori, a translator and performance artist known for her work bringing the poetry of Rumi into contemporary conversation. If you’ve ever stumbled across a Rumi quote that made you stop scrolling, you’ve already felt the impact of that 13th-century poet. At Puterbaugh, those centuries-old words are recited, sung, and reimagined in both Persian and English through live performance.
Across two days, programming includes workshops, conversations, book signings, and a culminating concert blending Western and Persian classical traditions. And yes, it’s all happening right here in Norman.
This Is Part of Norman’s Cultural DNA
The Puterbaugh Festivals have been part of Norman since 1968. They were created to expand cultural understanding through literature and language, and they’ve continued for decades thanks to a permanent endowment established in 1978. That longevity says something.
Norman isn’t just a place that hosts big weekends. It’s a place that invests in ideas. It’s where university energy meets community curiosity. Where global voices are welcomed into local spaces. You might start your spring in a room listening to poetry that’s traveled across centuries and continents. A few weeks later, you’ll be shoulder to shoulder with 50,000 music fans downtown. Both feel completely at home here.
Turn It Into a Spring Escape
If you’re coming from OKC, Tulsa, Dallas, or anywhere within driving distance, the Puterbaugh Lit Fest is a perfect excuse for a cultural getaway. Spend your afternoon on campus. Then head downtown for dinner, wander through local shops, grab coffee at an independent café, or browse for your next read at a local bookstore (like Green Feather Book Company).
Plan Ahead
All events are free and open to the public. You can find the full schedule and event details on the official Puterbaugh website or by contacting the World Literature Today offices at 405-325-4531.
Photo by Beowulf Sheehan
