Kearney Area Storytelling Festival brings tales to life for all ages

KEARNEY, Neb. — The art of storytelling comes alive in Kearney this week with the annual Kearney Area Storytelling Festival, now in its 35th year.

The festival began in 1988 as a small backyard gathering, and has grown to include professional storytellers performing in schools, libraries, churches and public venues across Central Nebraska.

“The festival has evolved over the years, but the goal has always been the same—connecting tellers and listeners,” said Marlene Hansen, chairman of the festival. “They can make you laugh one minute and cry the next. You get completely involved in the story.”

One of this year’s featured performers, Paul Strickland of Covington, Kentucky, presented stories at the Calvin T. Ryan Library Tuesday evening.

Strickland travels the country sharing folktales, reimagined for contemporary audiences, with audiences ranging from preschoolers to senior citizens.

“Storytelling gives people a new perspective to look at their own lives through other people’s stories,” said Strickland. “That’s empathy. Stories help you see yourself in someone else’s world.”

The festival’s programming includes performances in schools, community events, and public shows, giving audiences of all ages a chance to experience storytelling in its most engaging form.

Hansen noted the wide appeal of professional storytellers.

“They can enthrall a group of small children in one room and a room full of senior citizens in another. You can’t hear a pin drop because everyone is so captivated,” she said.

For more information about the festival and upcoming performances, visit here.