Telling a tall tale. Spinning a yarn. Crafting a fable. No matter what you call it, storytelling is one of America’s oldest pastimes. And these tales aren’t just for kids. The National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee, attracts attendees of all ages who gather for a weekend of ghost stories, folklore, and fairy tales recited by some of the most talented storytellers in the country.

The first event, held in 1973, drew only 60 people who sat on hay bales in open fields. Now in its 36th year, the festival attracts more than 10,000 people from around the U.S., making it one of the most popular events of its kind in the country. Professional storytellers like NPR commentator Kevin Kling, native Tennessean Minton Sparks, and award-winning author and recording artist Carmen Deedy take the stage throughout the weekend. Up-and-coming young storytellers participate in the Youthful Voices program, giving festival-goers an opportunity to see and hear the next generation of yarn spinners.

Held the first full weekend of October each year, the 2008 event is set for October 3–5. For more info, visit storytellingcenter.com.

Storytelling festivals take place around the country this fall. Here are three others worth checking out.

Moonshell Storytelling Festival

September 13
Held at Mahoney State Park in Omaha, Nebraska, this event features Bil Lepp among its headliners. A five-time winner of the West Virginia Liars Contest, Lepp has appeared at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C., and has been featured on NPR.
nebraskastoryarts.org

Three Apples Storytelling Festival

September 26–28
Massachusetts’ Bedford Center for the Arts (about a half hour from Boston) hosts this 24th annual event. The name comes from a traditional Armenian ending for stories: “Three apples fell from heaven: one for the teller of the tale, one for the listener, and one for all the people of the world.”
threeapples.org

George West Storyfest

November 1–2
Dubbed the “Storytelling Capital of Texas,” the small town of George West has hosted this annual celebration for 20 years. You’ll find it about an hour and a half south of San Antonio.
georgeweststoryfest.org

Illustration by Jon Flaming

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