A Weekend of Tall Tales, Myths and Legends at the Shoals Storytelling Festival

Florence, Ala. – Renowned storytellers will make their way to downtown Florence the third weekend in May to share tales and to celebrate the art of storytelling. The Shoals Storytelling Festival, along with its award-winning performers, is expected to draw storytelling fans from around the state and beyond to the historic Shoals Theatre May 17-18, 2019, with pre-festival events lined up for May 16.

Scheduled to appear at the Shoals Storytelling Festival are five-time champion of the West Virginia Liars’ Contest Bil Lepp (https://www.leppstorytelling.com/), award-winning storyteller Donald Davis (http://www.ddavisstoryteller.com/), Teller-in-Residence at the International Storytelling Center Dolores Hydock (http://www.storypower.org/) and highly accomplished old-time, bluegrass and swing musician Josh Goforth (https://www.blueridgeheritage.com/artist/josh-goforth/). Additional performers include Gee’s Bend Quilters (http://www.quiltsofgeesbend.com/); columnist, novelist and radio show host Sean Dietrich (Sean of the South) (https://seandietrich.com/); and Nashville-based indie-folk duet Firekid (https://www.facebook.com/firekidalabama/).

Thursday, May 16

1 p.m. – Storytime with Gee’s Bend Quilters (Mary Ann Pettway and China Pettway) at the Shoals Theatre (Immediately after, meet the quilters at the Gee’s Bend Quilt Exhibition at Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts.)

4 p.m. – Performance by Josh Goforth at the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library

7 p.m. – Performance by storyteller Sean Dietrich (Sean of the South)

Friday, May 17

8:45 a.m. – 5 p.m. (with lunch break) The Shoals Storytelling Festival featuring: Donald Davis, Dolores Hydock, Bil Lepp, and Josh Goforth

7 p.m. – Storyteller Showcase with Donald Davis, Dolores Hydock, Bil Lepp, and Josh Goforth

Saturday, May 18

8:45 a.m. – 5 p.m. (with lunch break) The Shoals Storytelling Festival featuring: Donald Davis, Dolores Hydock, Bil Lepp, and Josh Goforth

7 p.m. – Performance with Firekid (Dillon Hodges and Heidi Feek)

Day passes are $30. A two-day pass for Friday and Saturday is $50 and a three-day pass for $70 includes Thursday, Friday, and Saturday events. Tickets may be purchased online at https://www.theshoalstheatre.org/eventscalendar.

For more information, visit http://www.shoalsstorytelling.com.