Four days. Over 25 events. 72 poets, and only one will make it out of Fayetteville alive.

That last part isn’t totally true (the poets aren’t really fighting to the death), but there are 72 of the world’s best slam poets coming to Fayetteville next week for the four-day International World Poetry Slam Competition, and there can be only winner, so, kinda.

The festival, organized by some of the folks responsible for the local Ozark Poetry Slam events, will take place Oct. 3-6 with a series of workshops, themed readings, community events, and competitions planned for several locations around town.

The competitions will feature the 72 winners of preliminary events from cities around the world, and will culminate at the poetry slam finals at 7 p.m. on Saturday at the Verizon Ballroom inside the Student Union on the University of Arkansas campus.

Festival passes are $50 through Sept. 30, and $70 after that. Tickets to individual events are also available.

For more information, including a full schedule of events, visit iwps.poetryslam.com.