Ellwood City’s Storytelling Festival Tomorrow

The Ellwood City Storytelling Festival, a free event, will be held on Sept. 19 from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Ewing Park.

In its 14th year, the storytelling festival is a beloved community event that features free activities for children and professional storytellers. Each year, the event draws up to 1000 visitors. This year’s theme Heroes and Villains will feature many tales.

The storytelling stage will feature the talent of Tim Hartman, Joanna Demarest, Alan Irvine, Bill Pate, Jocelyn Dabney and Mike Perry. Each one will interpret the theme in their own style.

The almost lost art of storytelling relies on the individual teller’s performance style to draw the audience in. Each storyteller has their own base of stories, which can be based on folklore, feature music, or have audience interaction.

A Campfire Stories portion of the Festival will feature a real campfire. Ronald MacDonald will spend time greeting young visitors. The event will keep children busy with free balloon art by Haberman Magic, free face painting by Face Painting by Nancy, and free horse-drawn trolley rides.

Festival goers will be able to purchase and enjoy delicious foods at the Friends of the Library booth. Also there will be a drawing for a family fun basket. Participants can sign up at the information booth during the event.

In the event of severe thunderstorms, the event will be moved to the Lincoln High School gymnasium.

The Ellwood City Storytelling Festival is sponsored by Ellwood City Community Enrichment and planned in coordination with the Ellwood City Area Public Library.

The event is made possible by: ESB Bank, WesBanco, Nalco, EG&G, Carla’s Diner, Air Physical Therapy, Slippery Rock Presbyterian Church, Wurtemburg United Methodist Church, Ellwood City Municipal Women’s Club, Sportswear Graphics, Women of Faith International, David and Wendy Barensfeld, Lawrence County Commissioners, The Hoyt Foundation, the Community Foundation of Western PA, and the Caroline Knox Memorial Fund.