The National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough returns for its 50th year this fall with three days of programming celebrating the art of a well-told story. Large tents scattered throughout the downtown area will host a diverse lineup of world-renowned storytellers all weekend long. From Appalachian folklore and traditional tales to personal stories about contemporary life, ghost stories and more, festival programming features something for everyone. With general admission seating in each tent, attendees can check their festival programs, choose which presentations to attend and when, and walk from tent to tent enjoying stories.

Photo credit: National Storytelling Festival

Half a Century of Storytelling at the National Storytelling Festival

The festival takes place Oct. 7-9 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. For more information or to purchase one-day, two-day or full festival tickets, visit storytellingcenter.net/festival or call (800) 952-8392. If you can’t make it to the in-person event, learn more about the virtual experience at storytellingcenter.net.

Advertisement