April 27 – 28, 2018
2018 Kansas Storytelling Festival
Downs, Kansas
FRIDAY EVENTS- Registration 1:00 Registration Area north of Memorial Hall
1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Grand Opening, Memorial Hall
Dino O’Dell
Kim Weitkamp
3:00 – 3:45 p.m.
Memorial Hall: Bil Lepp
Downs Depot: Pippa White
Christian Church: Kim Weitkamp
“Tongue and Pen”***(workshop) A masterclass for storytellers and story-writers of all levels of expertise!
4:00 – 4:45 p.m.
Memorial Hall: Local Legends – Jesse “Buffalo” Jones (frontiersman & wildlife preservationist), Howard Herman Ruede (early Osborne County homesteader), Elsie Reasoner Ralph (America’s first female war correspondent), and Sarah Jane (a tribute to the women and girls who homesteaded the prairies).
Depot: Dino O’Dell
Christian Church: Andy Offutt Irwin
“Pin the Tale on the Personal Narrative”***(workshop)
5:00 – 6:30 p.m.
Supper with the Storytellers
Senior Center (additional admission)
7:00 – 8:15 p.m.
Memorial Hall
Tall Tale Contest – Cheer on your favorite as these
contestants vie for the shovel: Sherry Adams Dodson, Keyta Kelly, Jim Lee, & Vivian Ross
8:30 – 9:15 p.m.
Memorial Hall
Olio of Stories and Songs
Featured storytellers bring us a sampler to enjoy
9:15 – 10:15 p.m.
Christian Church: Kim Weitkamp
Ghost Stories (not for those under 12)
SATURDAY EVENTS- Registration 8:00 a.m. Registration Area near Memorial Hall
8:00 – 9:30 a.m.
Coffee, Tea and Tellers Breakfast
United Methodist Church
(additional admission)
10:00 – 10:45 a.m.
Memorial Hall: Bil Lepp
Senior Center: Dino O’Dell
“How to Trick Earthlings Into Learning”****(workshop) Education can happen in the most inordinary ways
Downs Depot: Andy Offutt Irwin
Stuff ‘n Such Bldg: Kim Weitkamp
11:00 – 11:45 a.m.
Memorial Hall: Kim Weitkamp
Senior Center: Bil Lepp
“Creating Tall Tales”***(workshop) change an ordinary story into a great tall tale
Stuff ‘n Such Bldg: Dino O’Dell
Christian Church: Pippa White
Noon – 2:00 p.m.
Food available at Memorial Hall & local restaurants
Quilt stories, Storyteller resources on sale at Memorial Hall
Book Sale at Carnegie Library 9am-5pm
1:00 – 1:45 p.m.
Master Storyteller, Sam Seymore, spends time with those who want to develop a Tall Tale and possibly compete in the October preliminary contest. Come & learn!
2:00 – 2:45 p.m.
Memorial Hall: Andy Offutt Irwin
Senior Center: Kim Weitkamp
Downs Depot: Youth Storytelling Showcase
Stuff ‘n Such Bldg: Pippa White
Christian Church: Bil Lepp
3:00 – 3:45 p.m.
Memorial Hall: Master Storytellers’ Circle
Come hear Sam Seymore, Mike Nyhoff, Kenneth Lee, and Allen DeBey improvise before our very ears!
Senior Center: Pippa White
“How We Say It”***(workshop) Tips & ideas for those doing any kind of public speaking
Christian Church: Andy Offutt Irwin
4:00-5:30 p.m.
Memorial Hall: Swappin’ Grounds – Mike Nyhoff, Master of Ceremonies
Christian Church: Local Legends – Jesse “Buffalo” Jones (frontiersman & wildlife preservationist), Howard Herman Ruede (early Osborne County homesteader), Elsie Reasoner Ralph (America’s first female war correspondent), and Sarah Jane (a tribute to the women and girls who homesteaded the prairies).
7:00 p.m.
FESTIVAL FINALE- The Uncalled For Trio – Andy Offutt Irwin, Bil Lepp, and Kim Weitkamp in a joint story concert underwritten by the Dane G. Hansen Foundation.
Memorial Hall
Admission with Festival Button or $8.00