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DOWNS — The 31st annual Kansas Storytelling Festival is only a few weeks away. The Festival will be held on Friday and Saturday, April 25 and 26, 2025 in Downs.
As the “Storytelling Capital of Kansas,” the small northcentral town of Downs welcomes you to a weekend of stories and unforgettable hospitality.
This celebration of the art of storytelling promises to be an event filled with laughter, wonder, and the timeless magic of storytelling. Nationally-known festival favorites are invited, along with new voices for stories from all genres for all ages.
Headlining storytellers are Ed Stivender, Pipppa White, Michael D. McCarty, Priscilla Howe, and Paul Strickland.
Ed Stivender was inducted into the National Storytelling Association’s Circle of Excellence in 1996. After giving up his Connecticut school teaching job, Ed has told his mostly humorous stories around the globe and has been a featured storyteller at national and international festivals.
Pippa White calls her One’s Company Productions “part theatre, part storytelling, part history.” She has performed at universities and colleges, conferences, performing arts centers, museums, libraries, and festivals in over 30 states. Audiences call them unique, captivating, and touching. One audience member said, “her performances are entertainment wrapped in history intertwined with “inspiration”.
Michael D. McCarty is a newcomer to the Kansas festival. He specializes in stories of African and African-American history and culture, multi-cultural stories, etc. Michael describes his life as: student activist, Black Panther, U.S. Army martial arts instructor, acupuncturist, world traveler, spiritual seeker, construction worker, storyteller, husband, father, crazy friend. Never a dull moment!
Priscilla Howe is primarily known as a performer for children, but she has a full repertoire of stories for grownups and older kids. She offers a disclaimer, with a little wink: "All my stories start with the seed of truth." Priscilla tours the country and abroad telling stories and giving workshops. To date, she has performed in 14 countries.
Paul Strickland always adapts his stories to whatever audience is in front of him, he loves telling stories in every imaginable environment, from comedy clubs to elementary and middle schools, corporate events and even two prisons. Paul was a Featured Teller: NEW VOICE at the National Storytelling Festival in 2023.
Listeners will also enjoy the Tall Tales Contest (Friday night), the local “Legends” Storytellers including Native American stories and the Master Storytellers (previous winners of three tall tales contests).
Bring your own stories to tell during the Swappin’ Grounds session on Saturday afternoon.
More information can be found https://www.kansasstorytellingfestival.com/ or Kansas Storytelling on Facebook. There's something for everyone to enjoy at the 2025 Kansas Storytelling Festival.