Thank you for your interest in volunteering for the 2019 International Edgar Allan Poe Festival & Awards. This event is quickly becoming a key part of programming at the Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum and volunteers play the most important role in making this event a success for Poe House and for the community.

This year's festival will be held at The Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum, Saturday & Sunday, October 5 & 6. Festival hours are from 11AM to 4PM each day, with two hours before and one hour after each day for setup and tear-down. There will be a kickoff reception, Friday, October 4, at The Carroll Mansion, from 6 to 9PM (free to volunteers.). The official party, The Black Cat Ball at Westminster Hall, will be held Saturday, October 5, from 7 to 10PM (ticketed event).

Pre-festival volunteer roles include: packet assembly, building, painting/marking, tour preparation and general assistance.
Festival volunteer roles include: information desk, house museum docents, vendor assistance, performer assistance, tour guides, festival clean-up, line and ticket check-in.

The festival itself is an event FREE to the public, and the program is outdoors. There are additional parties and tours that require tickets; volunteers are welcome to purchase tickets (while supplies last), and may also be entitled to discounts depending on their level of participation:

Volunteers who attend all required meet-ups are entitled to 50% discount on tour tickets (regular price $49) and/or Black Cat Ball tickets (regular price $125) and a festival t-shirt.

Volunteers who attend all required meet-ups and volunteer 1 day of the festival (Saturday or Sunday, three-hour shift) are entitled to 75% discount on tour and Black Cat Ball tickets, and a festival t-shirt (Limit 1)

Volunteers who attend all required meet-ups and volunteer both days of the festival (Saturday and Sunday, three-hour shifts each day) are entitled to 100% discount on tour and Black Cat Ball tickets, plus a festival t-shirt. (Limit 1)