Storytelling Festival

Storytelling is the oldest form of human communication. Every day, stories are told around campfires, at bedsides, on porches, anywhere people talk to each other. World Storytelling Day began in Sweden thirty years ago, and now at the time of the Spring Equinox, there are hundreds of World Storytelling Days across six continents. 

Storytellers of San Diego has been bringing the art of storytelling to audiences in the greater San Diego region for more than 40 years. Find out more at storytellersofsandiego.org

Click Here for a Printable Schedule

Parking at the Library

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Festival Schedule

 

Winn Room

Ruby Room

Children's Area

Spreckels Reading Room
10 a.m. COSA Advanced Jazz Ensemble
(10:15 a.m.)
 "How to Make a Story"
Mini Workshop
(10:15 a.m.)
    
11 a.m. Voices at the Water's Edge: Opening      
12 p.m. Adult Storytelling:
"Together We Can"		   Children's Storytelling:
"Together Kids Can"		  Anthology of 
East Indian Storytelling
1 p.m. COSA Advanced Jazz Ensemble;
& Indian Dance & Story;
Open Mic		 "Lights! Shadow! Action!"
Shadow Puppets Workshop
    
2 p.m. Woven Stories   Participation Stories
for Kids		 Veterans' Stories
3 p.m. Kids Tell & Open Mic "Turning Travel Into Story" Workshop    
4 p.m. Voices at the Water's Edge: Finale      

Programs

How to Make a Story Mini Workshop
10:15 - 10:50 AM | Ruby Room
Marianne Christensen, will introduce the basics of choosing, developing, and telling an effective story. A great start to a day of storytelling fun. 

Voices at the Water's Edge: Opening
11 - 11:50 AM | Winn Room
Featuring three tellers relating a mixture of folk tales, personal stories, and an original science fiction tale.

Adult Storytelling: Together We Can
11 - 11:50 AM | Winn Room
Stories about cooperation, sharing, and community reflecting the 2023 World Storytelling Day theme of "Together We Can"

Turning Travel Into Story Workshop
12 - 12:50 PM | Winn Room 
In this workshop, he will model the three essential elements of a travel story – departure, journey, and return. Includes reflection, small-group activities, sharing, and fun. 

An Anthology of East Indian Storytelling
12 - 12:50 PM | Spreckels Room 
Storytellers from many regions of India will share costumes, customs, and tales -- both traditional and personal.  

Indian Dance & Story
1 - 1:50 PM | Winn Room 
An Indian story of women's empowerment interpreted in word and dance.  

"Lights! Shadow! Action!" Shadow Puppets Workshop
1 - 1:50 PM | Ruby Room 
A fast-paced workshop covering the major components of a successful, cohesive shadow puppet story. Join an internationally-acclaimed artist for lighting options, screen materials, and simple designs, plus music, story, and manipulation. Leave with your own shadow puppet!
*For those who are serious about storytelling through shadow puppetry. Appropriate for teens, adults, and children 8+ (younger than 12 must be accompanied by an adult)

Woven Stories
2 - 2:50 PM | Spreckels Room
Basket artist Marsha Orr will weave a traditional market basket on-stage as storytellers tell tales of weaving and baskets. 

Veterans' Stories
2 - 2:50 PM | Winn Room 
Stories spotlighting military veterans, moderated by storyteller O.J. Mozon.

Turning Travel Into Story Workshop
3 - 3:50 PM | Ruby Room 
Brandon Spars has traveled the world; he tells and writes engaging, award-winning stories about his adventures.  In this workshop, he will model the three essential elements of a travel story – departure, journey, and return.  Includes reflection, small-group activities, sharing, and fun. 

Voices at the Water's Edge: Finale 
4 - 5:30 PM | Winn Room 
Folk tales, personal stories, myths and legends abound as eight tellers take the Festival stage with a blast of creative energy. 

Children's Programs 

Together Kids Can 
12 - 12:50 AM | Children's Area 
Stories for kids of cooperation, diversity, and getting along. 

Participation Stories for Kids 
2 - 2:50 PM | Children's Area 
Stories that invite the audience to participate with chants, songs, rhythms, and more.  

Kids Tell!  
3 - 3:50 PM | Winn Room 
Local children take the stage and tell stories, followed by an open mic for kids and youth.