LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Storytellers and activities are set for the 2016 Corn Island Storytelling Festival
The University of Louisville, Blackacre State Nature Preserve & Historic Homestead and the International Order of E.A.R.S. will present the Corn Island Storytelling Festival Oct. 21-22 with events kicking off at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 21.
Named after Louisville’s first settlement, the Corn Island Storytelling Festival was a nationally known autumn fixture that drew thousands of fans for three decades before ending its run in 2007. This will be the fifth year that UofL and the Corn Island organizers have partnered on the event. Blackacre joined the event last year.
Additional sponsors include Louisville Metro Government and Kentucky Homefront.
Storytellers and musicians for the weekend include:
- The Juggerloos, a local jug band that uses a mix of early jazz and ragtime tunes mixed with a few more modern covers.
- Leigh Ann Yost, Louisville storyteller and songwriter
- Graham Shelby, writer and professional storyteller. He’s performed in hundreds of venues including Actors Theatre of Louisville, the Texas Storytelling Festival and the Moth Mainstage in New York City.
- Roberta Simpson Brown, “The Queen of Cold-Blooded Tales,” a paranormal investigator and author of more than a dozen books and tapes of ghost stories.
Details for each day of the festival are below:
Friday, Oct. 21
Storytelling begins at 7:30 p.m. with a mix of family-friendly stories and spooky tales in the George J. Howe Red Barn, Belknap Campus. Col. Bob Thompson, storyteller and writer for the Kentucky Homefront radio program, will be the master of ceremonies.
Organizers will also host a series of free storytelling and music workshops during the afternoon on campus. Led by Brown, Yost, the Juggerloos and Louisville musician and storyteller John Gage, the workshops will cover topics including writing and performing.
All Friday events are free but registration is required at http://cornisland16.eventbrite.com.
Saturday, Oct. 22
Storytelling will be held at Blackacre State Nature Preserve & Historic Homestead, 3200 Tucker Station Rd.
Kids activities begin at 6 p.m. and storytelling begins at 7 p.m.
Saturday’s events are $7 for adults and $3 for children and tickets may be purchased onsite.
For more information on the festival, contact Bob Thompson, 502-553-2406.
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