FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association
PHONE: 256.350.3500 / 800.648.5381
EMAIL: info@northalabama.org
Nation’s Top Storytellers to Entertain in Downtown Athens
Decatur, Ala. – Some of the nation’s most highly acclaimed storytellers will make their way to Athens in October for the city’s annual celebration of storytelling, tall tales, and readings. Now in its thirteenth year, the Athens Storytelling Festival returns to the Limestone County Courthouse Square in downtown Athens October 22-26, 2019, and along with four award-winning performers, the event features an amateur night for locals to take the stage to unleash their own tall tales and stories.
The Athens Storytelling Festival kicks off on Tuesday evening, Oct. 22 at 6:30 p.m. with the Dan Williams Local Tellers Competition (amateur night). Admission at the gate is $5/adult and $3/child. The winner of this juried competition will get the stage again Thursday night, Oct. 24, to perform.
Wednesday, Oct. 23 and Thursday, Oct. 24 are designated school days. During school hours, performances by professional storytellers are open to all Tennessee Valley area schools and homeschoolers for students in third to twelfth grades. Seating is limited and reservations are required by contacting the festival at info@athensstorytellingfestival.com by Oct. 7.
For a sampling of what’s to come, make plans to attend the Storytelling Olio on Thursday, Oct. 24 from 7:30 to 9:55 p.m. The Storytelling Olio brings all the tellers together for a wonderful medley of stories and the winner of the Local Tellers Competition will be presented. (Admission charged.)
Slated to appear on Friday and Saturday are many of the favorite performers from previous years including author Donald Davis, National Storytelling Festival favorite Bil Lepp, highly accomplished old-time, bluegrass, and swing musician Josh Goforth, and joining the stage this year is Kevin Kling, best known for his popular commentaries on National Public Radio’s All Things Considered. Each teller will take the stage four times over the course of the weekend. Hours are 9 a.m. to 9:10 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 9:20 p.m. Saturday.
Stories will be told under the big tent on Marion Street, between Market and Washington. In addition, food vendors, local restaurants and an eclectic mix of shops offering a wide variety of antiques, gifts, gourmet foods, clothing and hardware will be open during the festivities.
Advance tickets (by Oct. 1) for all events (excluding school days) are $65/adult and $35/child (16 years and younger). Tickets for any combination of events or daily admission are also available. For complete ticket pricing, a biography on each storyteller and a schedule of events, visit www.athensstorytellingfestival.com.
About Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (AMLA)
AMLA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion and development of the travel industry within the 16 northernmost counties of the state. It is supported by 500-plus members consisting of chambers of commerce, Convention & Visitors Bureaus, attractions, campgrounds, festivals, communities, counties, golf courses, restaurants, tour operators, accommodations, vendors, financial institutions and individuals. Counties included within the AMLA region are Blount, Cherokee, Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan and Winston. Additional information on North Alabama destinations, accommodations and special events is available by calling 800.648.5381 or by visiting www.NorthAlabama.org. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @VisitNorthAL and like us at www.facebook.com/VisitNorthAL.
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