The North Carolina Poetry Society invites the public to attend the Sam Ragan Poetry Festival Saturday, March 14, at Weymouth Center for the Arts and Humanities in Southern Pines.

This free celebration of poetry and music runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and honors the memory of Sam Ragan: poet, author, North Carolina's first Secretary of Cultural Resources, and the man Jim Hunt appointed in 1982 "North Carolina's Poet Laureate for Life."

Complimentary refreshments will be available starting at 9:15 a.m., when registration begins for those wishing to order a box lunch or sign up to participate in open mic poetry readings.

The event offers a reading of the poems of Sam Ragan, poems recited from memory, the classical/bluegrass stylings of the musical duo, Chambergrass, and Cathy Smith-Bowers, the multi-award winning featured poet of the day, reading from her work and fielding questions from the audience.

Directions and more information about this program and the NCPS, can be found at www.NCPoetrySociety.org .