BlackBerry Peach National Poetry Slam Championships will be held Thursday to Saturday, October 20-22 in Daytona Beach and Daytona Beach Shores. More than 40 of the top slam artists from around the United States will be in greater Daytona Beach to compete for $5,000 in prize money.

All events are free to the public except Saturday’s championships. Tickets can be purchased at  https://BBPFinalStage.eventbrite.com

The slam is being hosted in conjunction with the Florida State Poetry Association’s annual conference at the Marriott Residence Inn, 3209 S. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach Shores. The National Slam Championship opens Thursday evening with first round “bouts” at the Marriott and the Midway Café, 536 Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd, both beginning at 6 p.m.

Slam poets who survive the first round advance to round two, with the best of the best making it to Saturday night’s finals in the Bethune-Cookman Performing Arts Center, 698 W. International Speedway Blvd. The finals begin at 8 p.m. Friday night’s round two bouts are scheduled for Bethune-Cookman’s Michael & Libby Johnson Center for Civic Engagement, Room A, 740 International Speedway Boulevard, starting at 6 p.m. and running through 10:30 p.m.