The Mesa Verde Writers Conference is moving from its traditional midsummer schedule to early September this year, as organizers cite crowded summer calendars and high temperatures in the Four Corners region.
The annual conference, now in its fourth year, is scheduled for September 2 through 4 at Deer Hill Expeditions near Mancos.
Organizer Lisa C. Taylor said July had become a difficult fit.
“July is just crowded with so many events in this area,” Taylor said. “It was also really hot last year.”
The move places the conference just ahead of Labor Day weekend, a period organizers hope will offer milder weather and fewer scheduling conflicts.
Tourism remains an important part of the regional economy. According to the National Park Service, Mesa Verde National Park welcomed more than 505,000 visitors in 2023. Those visitors spent an estimated $59.5 million in communities near the park and supported 776 jobs.
Taylor said the conference is intentionally small, with attendance capped at 40 participants. Organizers say that allows for more direct interaction between attendees and faculty.
This year’s program includes workshops in fiction, poetry, nonfiction, dialogue writing, and environmental themes, along with panel discussions and readings.
The conference is also now operating as a program of the Mancos Creative District, a change Taylor said helps support grant opportunities and scholarships.
Registration is currently open.
