Athens, Alabama

 Trish and I have just come from a wonderful week as I told for the eighteenth year at the Athens, Alabama, Storytelling Festival.

The lineup of tellers this year was spectacular. I was joined by Carol Cain in the school days and by Josh Goforth, Michael Reno Harrell, Tim Lowry, and Rev. Robert Jones for the full festival.

On Monday I had a dinner with area teachers followed by a workshop with them. 

Tuesday through Thursday we told to more than 5,000 students from grades three through high school. They were a marvelous audience! When they come every year, they grow in an amazing way!

The full festival followed all day Friday and Saturday.

This festival has a strong student component. On Tuesday evening we had fourteen student tellers for an evening for everyone. Then, throughout the week, there were students who told mixed with the featured tellers. The student audiences loved hearing from their peers and were wonderfully supportive of them.

An extra plus was having Michael Reno Harrell and Josh Goforth here at the same time. In addition to their individual sets, on occasion they combined their time and performed together. This was a special treat that the audience loved.

This is a lovely festival in Athens, Alabama. You should plan to come sometime on the fourth weekend of October each year on the campus of Athens State.