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DOWNS — The Kansas Storytelling Festival is holding three qualifying events for the 2026 Tall Tales storytelling contest.
Anyone (amateur) is welcome to enter these preliminary events to become one of four finalists at the Storytelling Festival on April 24-25, 2026 in Downs. All qualifier events are free to attend.
The first qualifier will be held Saturday, September 13 at the Tonganoxie Community Historical Society, 201 W. Washington St., Tonganoxie, beginning at 5:00pm.
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Following the Tall Tale contest at about 7:35 p.m., Professional Storyteller Paul Strickland will perform.
The second qualifier will be held Saturday, September 20 at the Mid-America All-Indian Center, 650 N. Seneca St., Wichita, from 1:00-3:00 p.m. Following the contest, previous Kansas Tall Tale champions and historical Legends will perform. Register by email at [email protected] or contacting Mike at 785-545-5285.
The final qualifier will be held in Downs, the “Storytelling Capital of Kansas” on Saturday, October 11, at the Zion Lutheran Church, 1018 Blunt Street, Downs. The Downs event begins at 7:00 p.m. Register by email at [email protected] or contacting Mike at 785-454-1177.
A tall tale is a unique form of American Story Telling in which the narrator usually has a part in the story. Telling a tall tale uses exaggerated detail describing things larger than they really are. A tall tale is a story based on a fact, or facts, and filled with unbelievable elements told as if they were true and factual. A tall tale has just enough truth to make a good story and to incite the imagination.
Professional storytellers cannot compete.
Information and rules for the Tall Tale Competition are posted at kansasstorytellingfestival.com
Interested individuals can enter any of the events, or all of them if not selected as top qualifier. For more information or to register for each event, please go to the Kansas Storytelling Festival website at https://www.kansasstorytellingfestival.com/ or the Kansas Storytelling FaceBook page at https://www.facebook.com/KansasStorytellingFestival.