HEADING TO JONESBOROUGH TN

As Storyteller643 who curates this blog, I missed the annual Storytellers of Canada conference this summer in Ottawa. By all reports it was a wonderful event of telling, workshops and meeting up with old and new friends, all of whom share a passion for the spoken word in all its various genres.

Mark it on your calendar for 2013: July 4 to 7 in Ottawa. As the event approaches, check out the Storytellers of Canada website for more information. Here's a suggestion. Build your summer vacation around the event as Ottawa itself is a major Canadian tourist destination (and our national capital). Lots to see, do, eat and explore.

But at the last minute, I decided to head out on our Canadian Thanksgiving weekend (October 5-7), to the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee. This year is their 40th anniversary so the many planned events will be well worth the effort of getting there and participating in their celebrations. The NSF is to American storytelling what The Grand Old Opry in Nashville is to country music. Put the Festival on your storytelling Bucket List for sure!

Once I am back from Jonesborough, I will put up a post or two about my Festival experiences and some of the personalities, trends and styles I saw performing there. This year's confirmed event program should be up on their site by September 23rd so even if you are not able to go this year, check it out. I made my plans too late this year so finding accommodation in or near Jonesborough is almost impossible, but I had some luck finding a hotel room about 45 minutes away from the center of the storytelling action.

Remember to Learn, Listen and Tell in your community.

September 14, 2012