Telling stories at the Uwharrie Storytelling Festival

The 2011 Uwharrie Storytelling Festival will feature stories and workshops by nationally acclaimed storyteller and banjo player Shelia Kay Adams. This year’s event is scheduled for Saturday, October 1, in the Fellowship Center of Central United Methodist Church at 172 North Second Street in Albemarle, NC.

 “We have made several changes for this year’s Uwharrie Storytelling Festival.  First, we changed the date.  We wanted to get away from Halloween and the idea that storytelling meant only ghost stories.  Second, we changed our location because we found out that people seemed to enjoy being inside more than outdoors,” said Chris Bramlett, a member of the storytelling committee.

According to Kathy Almond, Executive Director of Albemarle Downtown Development Corporation,  “The storytelling site is located in Albemarle’s central business district where the first Saturday of the month has been designated Shop First in Downtown Albemarle by the Albemarle Downtown Business Association.  

Tickets to hear the storytellers are $5 per person.  Children 12 and younger will be admitted free if they are accompanied by an adult with a ticket.  Tickets may be purchased at Starnes Jewelers in downtown Albemarle and at all Stanly County Public Libraries. A limited number of tickets may be purchased at the door on the day of the event.

On stage between 1 - 7 pm, in addition to Shelia Kay Adams, a nationally recognized storyteller, will be popular regional favorites Ed “Moose” Duke and Randy Rayfield.  Local favorites Heather Ross Miller, Georgette Edgerton, Matt Steed, and Jeff Hamilton will be sharing stories in their own unique styles.  Susan Sharples and Stanly County Library Director Melanie Holles will be telling a variety of the late Fred Morgan’s very special Tales. 

In addition to storytelling, Adams will also be conducting storytelling and banjo workshops.  Pre-registration for these workshops is strongly recommended as the number of participants will be limited.

The Storytelling workshop will be offered from 10 am until noon on Saturday, October 1. The cost will be $20.00 per participant. The Banjo workshop will be held from 1-2:30 pm. This workshop will be hands-on as well as demonstration and will cost $15.00 per participant.  For more information or to pre-register for either or both of these workshops, contact suze_stem@yahoo.com

“Food and beverages may be purchased beginning at noon and continuing throughout the storytelling event.

The movie The Song Catcher, for which Adams served as consultant and dialect coach, will be shown at the main branch of the Library sometime in September. Check the website after Labor Day for the date and time.

For this and other information about the 2011 Uwharrie Storytelling Festival visit www.uwharriestorytelling.com where you can learn about each storyteller, see a copy of the schedule, find out about the workshops being offered, get printable directions to the festival, and view pictures from the 2010 Uwharrie Storytelling Festival.  Uwharrie Storytelling is also on Facebook.

Shelia Kay Adams is famous for her storytelling and her banjo playing.

She'll be at the Uwharrie Storytelling Festival on October 1.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE UWHARRIE STORYTELLING FESTIVAL COMMITTEE

WEEKLY POST - Wednesday, August 31, 2011 - p.7