Celebrate 100 years of Jack Kerouac
Centennial Birthday Celebration
Fri Mar 4 – Sun May 1
Centennial event Schedule
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Music
Live music performances from great local and regional acts
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Poetry
Hear poetry and partake in open mics with talented writers
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Tours
Discover Kerouac's most notable locations and history in Lowell
Jack Kerouac
Author. Beat Poet.
Jack Kerouac, born in Lowell, Massachusetts, is one of the most important American authors of the 20th century. Kerouac is best known for his classic On the Road, a novel that captured the spirit of the time and continues to inspire readers.
Kerouac shaped a unique literary consciousness that has influenced readers, writers, musicians, and artists for more than fifty years. He died in St. Petersburg, Florida, in 1969, and is buried in Edson Cemetery in Lowell.
Welcome to Lowell Celebrates Kerouac Website
Thanks to Mike Flynn, John McDermott—and his daughter—and Brian Bahia for all their good work in getting our LCK website in place.
After not being able to hold our traditional festivities in 2020, we were able to have a fully on-site Festival over the first weekend in October of 2021.
In this year of Jack Kerouac’s 100th Birthday, LCK is participating with a wide range of Lowell-based cultural, educational, civic, artistic, and educational organizations to carry forth the Jack Kerouac Centennial. A schedule of the kick-off events for the 2nd and 3rd weekends in March are posted on this website.
Our 2022 Festival in October will bring the Kerouac Centennial to a close. Keep posted here for Centennial related events that will take place between March and October.
Keeping the spirit of Kerouac alive in Jack’s 100th year!
Steve Edington, President of Lowell Celebrates Kerouac
Our Mission
Lowell Celebrates Kerouac! Inc. (LCK!) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote a better understanding and appreciation of Jack Kerouac’s life and literature.
Founded in 1985, LCK! sponsors literary programs year round, including a festival in the first weekend of October. We also produce a spring program tied to Kerouac’s March 12th birthday, as well as other educational and cultural activities. LCK! volunteers help maintain Kerouac Park and Jack Kerouac Commemorative in Downtown Lowell.
Kerouac Tours in Lowell
LCK members give walking or bus or car caravan tours of Kerouac sites for a donation fee, depending on the tour. Fee is just $10 per person.
From the Guest Book
A powerful influence in my youth and I've never let go...this Dharma Bum is On the Road again. So grateful I was here and left a thank you.
jennifer morgan
02-23-2021
checking in on an important day in Kerouac history....and hope to see you all later in the year
Bill Niland
03-29-2021
Dear LOWELL CELEBRATES KEROUAC, The new and improved web site is absolutely outstanding! Thank you for keeping the flame of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness alive and well. Jack Kerouac honored all three of those cherished American values, for sure! He instilled the regeneration of those original values in THE BEATS through hus quintessentially, modern, American literature. Uncle Billy always said that “Jack was a genius,” and he was right. We, who - like Jack - were also born and bred in Lowell, Massachusetts understand his genius and have a real responsibility to honor it and preserve his memory. LCK is doing an outstanding job of honoring this tradition, and tor that, we should all be very grateful. God bless you, one and all. - George Nicholas Koumantzelis 👍🌵🌅🌲😇
George Nicholas Koumantzelis
05-27-2021
For kerouac's fans this is a must. I hadn't been back in years, so seeing the new memorial headstone and seeing that people still follow the tradition of leaving offerings was a great joy. "The Road is Life"
faustgirl
09-03-2020
Iconic Author who defined an era in america culture!
Ken Risher
09-04-2020
As someone who loves the Beat Generation and Jack Kerouac I gotta say this gravesite had so much meaning to it. Lots of ppl placed things on his grave and just shows how much of an icon he truly was to so many people
Brandon Williams
09-04-2020
