In 2004 the Alabama Center for the Book will host its third Telling Alabama's Stories, Storytelling Festival. Held on the same weekend as the Annual Gala Author Dinner, the event is a spoken-word festival promoting family literacy, books, and reading. With the Gala Dinner, it helps promote the National Book Festival and forms the beginning of what is hoped to become a state book festival.

• Last year's program featured more than a dozen tellers, including Kathryn Tucker Windham. Also featured was artist Charlie Lucas.
• The Alabama Department of Human Resources funded the attendance of approximately 150 foster families and children. Attendance for 2003: 700+.
• Last year, funding support was provided by the Alabama State Council on the Arts, Alabama Power, the Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel, and ticket sales.
• Partners include Landmarks/Old Alabama Town in Montgomery, Alabama Public Library Service, Silver Spoon Café and Catering, Shashy's, the Alabama Department of Tourism and Travel, Alabama Power, and the Alabama State Council on the Arts.
• The Center for the Traditional Culture will partner in 2004.

Featuring more than a dozen tellers from across the state, the 2004 festival will focus on mysteries and legends native to Alabama. Tellers will perform under two tents in Kiwanis Park at Old Alabama Town, following a book signing and reception with Ace Atkins, Tim Dorsey, and Carolyn Haines to start off the day. Telling Alabama’s Stories will also include children’s activities, art, food, and games.

Storytellers committed to this year’s festival include Anne Dalton, Bernadette Smith, Charles Tortorici, Charlie Lucas, Cynthia Jancaterino, Dolores Hydock, Eve Kneeland, Joseph Trimble, Juan Gomez, Margayle Williams, Mark Stewart, Renee Morrison, Ruth Rambo, Sammye Hill, and Verna Gates. Australian puppeteer Robert Parsons-native and West Alabama artist and printer Amos Kennedy round out the day.

The estimated attendance for this year’s festival is approximately 1,000 people. Telling Alabama’s Stories continues to be the premiere storytelling festival in the state.

For more information view our events page about Telling Alabama's Stories