About the Festival

The dream for The Milford Readers and Writers Festival was initiated with the mission of giving those who read books the opportunity to interact with those who write them in a relaxed setting.

In 2016, a group of four community members, Sean Strub, Bob Levine, Suzanne Braun Levine, and Amy Ferris, met and hatched the idea of creating some type of literary festival in Milford, honoring the tradition of the Science Fiction Writers Conference of the ’50s.  The group expanded to include Edson Whitney, Lillian Logendorfer, Barbara Zappile, Rocco Zappile, Roland Edwards, Barbara de Vries, Cindy Stine, Diana Wiener, Michelle Oram, Jennifer Ziegler, and Michael Trenner. From there, this mighty group of book lovers brainstormed and crafted the parameters and mission of the festival. This group continued meeting regularly, and the first festival was put together in seven months.

The vision became a reality when the inaugural Milford Readers and Writers Festival debuted the first weekend of October 2016, with a star line-up of authors, poets, performers, chefs, gardeners, conservationists, and more. The tradition of featuring influential writers was established from the start, with John Berendt, Gloria Steinem, and MK Asante as well as a performance by Human Collective appearing on stage at the Milford Theatre. They were attracted by the opportunity to meet people who actually read their work and to enjoy historic Milford. 

Over the years, a variety of venues around Milford where events have taken place have included Grey Towers National Historic Site, Hotel Fauchere, Dimmick Inn, Pike County Public Library, Waterwheel Cafe, Triversity Center, Pike County Historical Society, St. Patrick’s Church, and Good Shepherd Episcopal Church.

The festival organizers incorporated as Pike Artworks, a 501c-3 nonprofit organization. The first board meeting was held April 2, 2017, with a founding board comprising Edson Whitney (President), Amy Ferris (Vice President), Barbara Zappile (Secretary), Michael Trenner (Treasurer), Barbara de Vries (Creative Director), Roland Edwards, Bob Levine, Lillian Longendorfer, Sean Strub, and Diana Wiener.

In the years since that first festival in 2016, many others have contributed their time and talent to carry on the tradition of bringing readers and writers together.

We want to give special recognition to our fearless leader, Edson Whitney, who dedicated his time and talents to the festival from its inception in 2026 until his retirement in after the close of the 2024 event. From the first organizing committee meeting, his tireless service and inspirational leadership has left an indelible mark on our community. We continue to build on his dedication, professionalism, and enthusiasm in order to share opportunities to connect readers and writers in meaningful conversation about the written word.

Carol McManus joined the team in 2017, and from 2018 until 2024, she and Edson co-chaired the festival. She now serves as president of Pike Artworks and continues to co-chair the festival with Brian Carso. “We are grateful to those many people who have been part of this all-volunteer army over the years, and to those who continue to work tirelessly to carry forward an event that started as a seed of an idea in 2016.” A very special thank you to Rocco and Barbara Zappile who are the two people still active today who were there from the very beginning!

In Memory:

Cindy Stine: Cindy was an integral part of the festival from the beginning. Her enthusiasm, organization, and love continue to inspire us. We miss her and are grateful for her dedication and focus on respect and clarity every year.

Diana Wiener: Diana’s enthusiasm and creativity sparked all of us from the very beginning with the idea of the festival. We miss her and continue to build on her ideas and dedication to connect readers and writers in conversation every year.

Please visit our Archives on this site to see the many faces of authors who have graced our stage and contributed to our long history. 

Our goal remains to serve northeast PA and the greater tri-state area by hosting an annual festival to bring readers and writers together in an intimate setting.

The Milford Theater first opened a century ago as a silent movie house. When talkies replaced silent films, the theater was updated with a sound system and remained a popular destination until TV took over in the sixties, after which attendance diminished and the theater fell into disrepair. Fifty years and several owners later, the theater has been transformed and renovated while its historic and architectural integrity and character remain. The theater is also the home of the annual Black Bear Film Festival and other special events, performances, and screenings.