Southern Ohio Storytelling Festival facts for kids
The Southern Ohio Storytelling Festival is a fun event held every year in Chillicothe, Ohio. It takes place from Thursday to Saturday, right after Labor Day. This festival brings together amazing storytellers from Ohio and all over the country. They share their best stories with thousands of students and people who love listening to tales. A group of volunteers helps organize this special festival.
The Story of Storytelling in Ohio
Storytelling has a long and rich history in southern Ohio. Long ago, Native American tribes like the Shawnee and Mingo lived here. They kept their history alive by passing stories down from parents to children. These stories taught them about their past and their culture.
Later, pioneers came to settle in Ohio. They brought stories from their homelands. They also created new stories about their adventures and challenges in this new land. Even people traveling on the Underground Railroad used stories. They shared tales of hope and courage as they moved through southern Ohio.
How the Festival Began
A local storyteller and business leader named Bill McKell loved storytelling. He visited other storytelling festivals with his family, including the National Storytelling Festival. He noticed there were no big storytelling festivals in Ohio.
Bill McKell decided to change that. He gathered a team of local volunteers and storytelling groups. They worked hard to plan a festival for Ohio. They also found money and donations to make it happen. The very first Southern Ohio Storytelling Festival was held in 2004. It took place in Chillicothe, which was once the first capital of Ohio.
Over the years, the festival has used many different places. This helps make sure thousands of students can attend. Some of these places include the historic Majestic Theatre and buildings at Ohio University-Chillicothe. They have also used a tent in Yoctangee Park and local school auditoriums.
There was no festival in 2020.
What Happens at the Festival
The festival usually starts on Thursday evening. There is a special "meet the storytellers" party. Everyone is welcome to come and meet the performers. This event also includes a concert where each storyteller shares a little preview of their tales.
Friday is a very busy day for students. Thousands of students come to the festival to hear stories. Students from other parts of Ohio can also join in. They connect to the festival through a special video network. Since 2009, spooky ghost stories have been added. These are held on Friday evenings at the old Majestic Theatre.
Many famous storytellers have performed at the festival. Some of them include:
- Bill Harley
- Carmen Agra Deedy
- Donald Davis
- Elizabeth Ellis
- Connie Regan-Blake
- Sheila Kay Adams
- Bobby Norfolk
- Bil Lepp
- Antonio Rocha
- Len Cabral
- Kate Long
- Lyn Ford
- Kevin Cordi
- Andy Offutt Irwin
- Jim Flanagan
On Saturday, the festival encourages everyone to share their own stories. There is an "open microphone" session. This is a chance for anyone to step up and tell a story. It's a great way for people to share their creativity and listen to new voices.
