Wayzgoose ORD
SAVE THE DATE.
November 6-8, 2026
Word?! a WAyzgoose?
A Wayzgoose is traditionally an annual festival or outing for printers, historically held around St. Bartholomew's Day (August 24th) to celebrate the end of summer and the start of working by candlelight.
WORD or Wayzgoose ORD (ORD is the IATA code for Chicago’s O’Hare Airport), is our effort to bring the letterpress community together during this traditional meeting time. For this first year we are prioritizing creating space and time for us to gather together in community. Think more hanging out, sharing stories, and informal interactions and less all-day programming and sitting in chairs while listening to long talks. We will also have opportunities to spend time in different print shops around Chicago.
The plan is for the majority of activities to be held on Saturday with lighter programming on Friday night and Sunday.
Sign up for updates on WORD 2026.
WHY NOW?
We want to hang out with you. There was a hole to fill and we wanted to fill it. We wanted to remind us all that it is the wide range of printers, designers, typographers, educators, bibliophiles and type-nerds that make our community so special. And we miss you.
WHO me?
Yes, you. Everyone is invited. This is an event where we welcome and celebrate the diversity of people and perspectives in our community. We’re talking to you Black, brown, women, LGBTQ+ print people :)
Where?
Chicago, Chi-Town, The Second City, City of Big Shoulders, The City That Works, home of the Vandercook proofing press. Chicago has a rich history and contemporary practice of letterpress printing. It’s also located in the middle of the country with an international airport (ORD) so we thought Chicago would be an ideal place to hold a Wayzgoose.
“IT’ll be better in chicago.”
— Mavis Staples
NEXT STEPS
1. SAVE THE DATE
November 6-8, 2026.
2. CONNECT WITH US
Sign up for information and updates and let us know if you’re interested coming. It’ll help us with planning.
3. SPREAD THE WORD
Let your people know what we’re planning for November 2026.
We’re working on securing a large meeting space for us to hang out, recommendations for places to stay and a network of print shops that will be part of the programming.
THE ORganizers
Jen Farrell (Starshaped Press) and Ben Blount are leading this charge and pulling in help from members of the community. As more folks join in, we’ll add more names here. Stay tuned.
