Haunting in the Hills Storytelling Festival

Picture this: It's a crisp September morning, and the sun begins its ascent over the scenic Bandy Creek Field. The stage is set for a day that promises to captivate your imagination and ignite your creativity. On Saturday, September 21, 2024 the Storytelling Festival returns to the stunning Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, and you're invited to be part of this enchanting experience.

Join thousands of fellow festival-goers as we transform this picturesque setting into a vibrant tapestry of stories, music, crafts, and more. Stroll through an array of engaging craft classes and experience exhilarating concerts—all completely free and open to the public. This is your chance to immerse yourself in a day brimming with artistic expression and community spirit.

But the magic doesn’t stop there. Leading up to the festival, our outreach programs bring dynamic storytelling to local schools, where students eagerly engage with world-renowned storytellers. It’s a unique opportunity for them to experience the power of storytelling firsthand before joining us at the festival.

So, mark your calendars and make your plans now. The Storytelling Festival is more than an event—it’s a celebration of creativity and community you won’t want to miss!

 

 

Event Schedule

8:00 am | Birding Walk - Meet at Bandy Creek swimming pool
9:00 am – 8:00 pm | Bandy Creek Visitor Center
Opens at 9 am | Craft & Food Sales
10 am, 11am, 12pm | Dulcimer Workshop - Back Porch of the Visitor Center
11 am – 7 pm | Ol’ Timey Toys

Main Tent Lineup
11 am – 6 pm | Traditional family-oriented stories – geared toward family listening.
6 pm – 8 pm | Musical performances by Arnold Stephens Band & Gerald Handwright
8 pm – 10 pm | The highlight of the evening will be the featured storytellers’ performances of haunting ghost stories, will begin with the mild and progress to scarier stories.

 

The Featured Storytellers for 2024

 

Kucha Brownlee and Baba Tony Brown

Kucha Brownlee began her storytelling journey through theatre, touring the Midwest and Canada with children’s companies. With a BA in English, she merges her education and experience in her 35+ years as a professional storyteller and singer. Kucha’s diverse storytelling includes both African and African folktales, historical narratives, and personal stories, enhanced by her theatrical flair. For the past 20 years, Kucha has collaborated with Baba Tony Brown, blending storytelling with interactive performances, singing, drumming, and lively engagement. Baba Tony, a former public speaker and trainer, plays various instruments and teaches drumming. Together, they have led workshops for numerous organizations and are active members of several storytelling associations.

 

Rona Leventhal

Rona Leventhal has been sharing her passion of the power of story for over three decades, putting laughter in the belly and smiles in the hearts of listeners. Rona’s performances are dynamic, evocative, funny… sometimes at the same time! She aims to leave her audiences with “aha’s!” and “ah’s!”. Rona is a certified Teacher and loves sharing what she calls “Living Literacy” with young people of all ages! Her performances have taken her from the stages at the National Storytelling Network, the National Yiddish Book Center, festivals, international venues including recent events in Morocco and Australia, conferences, schools and libraries. Rona is a Teller of Tales, Workshop Leader, Improv Specialist, Coach, Teaching Artist and Consultant.

 

Paul Strickland

Paul Strickland, a Kentucky-based storyteller and theatre artist, of unique family-friendly stories. In 2023, he was a Featured Teller: New Voice at the National Storytelling Festival and at the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival. He has also featured at major festivals like Cave Run in 2022. Known for adapting his storytelling to any audience, Paul has performed in diverse settings, from comedy clubs to schools and even prisons. He made his NYC Off-Broadway debut in 2018 with "13 Dead Dreams of Eugene" at SoHo Playhouse. His stories have won "Best of Fest" honors at Fringe Festivals over 16 times, and his comedy performance "Levels of Difficulty" is a SiriusXM staple.

 

Darci Tucker

Darci Tucker is from Williamsburg, Virginia. Born and raised in California, she spent her childhood profoundly homesick for the East Coast, where she had never been. In college she visited Williamsburg, and finally felt at home. Darci travels nationwide, mesmerizing children and adults alike with folktales, fairytales, mythology, Shakespeare and more. She is a shape-shifter who often portrays the people whose stories she tells.

 

Musicians Weaving Stories

 

Musicians at a previous Storytelling event.

NPS

Experience an exhilarating lineup of live performances that showcase the incredible talent of our region. From the soulful strains of bluegrass to the rich, evocative melodies of traditional Appalachian tunes, our diverse array of genres will captivate and inspire. Each performance is a celebration of both our deep-rooted heritage and the vibrant evolution of our local music scene.

Enjoy a continuous flow of enchanting music from the Knoxville Area Dulcimer Club, whose unique sound will fill the air throughout the day. Don’t miss their engaging workshop at the visitor center porch, where you can immerse yourself in the joy of making music alongside talented musicians.

As the day unfolds into evening, the energy ramps up with the Arnold Stephens Band delivering a high-octane performance that will keep you on your feet. And as night falls, let the emotive melodies of acoustic artist Gerald Handwright take you on a powerful musical journey, creating unforgettable moments that celebrate our community and culture.