Storytelling Festivals a Blast

As usual, the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival was a blast – and it was packed like never before.  That said, it never ceases to surprise me how few people attend – considering the size of the potential draw.  I’m especially surprised at how few authors know about storytelling festivals and how few attend.  They are the diamonds of best kept secrets from authors.  Bill Lepp, Donald Davis, Willy Clafflin, David Holt, Bill Hurley, and Kevin Kling alone ought to get the attention of every serious author looking for a little inspiration … and yet most of you reading this are thinking “who?”  Okay folks – you can’t afford to miss this bandwagon any longer.  Storytelling festivals are not only good, wholesome, family fun at bargain pricing, they carry an inspirational charm to them that is lost in every other avenue of entertainment.  While most stories are memorized and time proven, the best tellers frequently extemporize and the energy coming from an audience listening to a story live is simply unparalleled.  The closest thing is live theater but even that isn’t a very good comparison since people who don’t like cheesy stories often don’t like live theater.  If you haven’t given a storytelling festival a try – especially the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival – don’t deprive yourself any longer.  I’m not guaranteeing that every teller will be to your liking but after 13 years of attending (I performed 11 of those 13 as the world’s only story juggler), I can honestly say that I’m grateful that I keep attending year after year.  I’m curious about your experience: have you been to a storytelling festival?  if not, why haven’t you gone?  if so, tell us about it.