30th Annual Storytelling Festival To Be Held Friday, Saturday

30^th Storytelling Festival Unfolds Feb 17 & 18 in Decatur, GA

Award-winning Storyteller Bill Harley, Regional Favorites & New Voices Set to Appear 

Decatur -- Calling all story lovers.  Gather ‘round.  The 30^th Annual Storytelling Festival is coming to downtown Decatur on February 17-18, 2012.  The Storytelling Festival is presented by Southern Order of Storytellers, an Atlanta-based organization of professional storytellers from around the South.  

The two-day Storytelling Festival features a cast of 30 colorful, national, local and regional storytellers who will present a line-up of 13 events and activities that will appeal to storytelling fans of all ages. These events include concerts for children, families and grownups. To appeal to young people, the Festival offers a chance for school children to create their own stories and present them in a workshop designed for K-3 and grades 4 and up. For aspiring and practicing storytellers, there are three workshops geared toward educators, librarians, and those interested in the art of professional storytelling. There are even two storytelling performances especially planned for grownups. The festival coincides with the winter break for several area school districts, thereby offering school children, parents and teachers alike some family fun that also celebrates and reinforces learning.

Headlining the two-day, family-friendly festival is Bill Harley, a two-time Grammy award-winning musician and a regular commentator on National Public Radio’s (NPR) “All Things Considered.”  Harley opens the festival on Friday at 3:30pm with a storytelling workshop titled “Storytelling as an Art” and continues on Saturday at 10am with a second workshop titled “From Page to Voice and Back Again.” The 30^th Storytelling Festival culminates on Saturday with Harley’s performance for adults at 7:30pm at Decatur Presbyterian Church. Harley’s storytelling concert for grownups will feature his trademark blend of song and story, wit and wisdom.

The 30^th Storytelling Festival has its downtown Decatur debut with events at Decatur Presbyterian Church (205 Sycamore St.) Atlanta Friends Meeting House (701 W. Howard Ave) and Eddie’s Attic (515 N. McDonough St, Suite B.)  For full festival schedule and bios of featured storytellers; prices for tickets and festival passes; and venue and parking information, go to www.SouthernOrderofStorytellers.org.  For more information, contact Festival Director Ann Ritter at asritter@earthlink.net or 404-569-1434.                                -end-