We are into a new year, and I hope yours includes storytelling!  During the pandemic national and international, as well as local tellers, have been busy putting material on the internet.  Festivals and individual artists are constantly offering story-listening opportunities, many of them free or low cost.  The storytelling world has really stepped up to the challenge of technology-based entertainment!  Try the magic of Google to discover what is "out there" and you can participate in the comfort of your own homes. The Weber State University Storytelling Festival (based in Utah) is at the end of February and will be totally virtual, also offering daily stories leading up to the main event. Of course, you can always tell family stories during these cold winter months.  It beats spending every evening in front of the TV.  Investigate and you might find new entertainment, that is actually the oldest type of entertainment!

 This is the month when the United States celebrates the Thanksgiving season.  While traditional activities are being somewhat curtailed by the Coronavirus, one thing that is still available is family storytelling. This can be done among those with whom you live, or it can be done with extended family over Zoom, Skype, the telephone or any other electronic and virtual medium.  Stories can translate well through cyberspace, and that type of interaction can brings families and friends closer together.  So. . .besides the turkey and trimmings of this season, inject some story into your celebration.  It could help you to be safer and still close to your loved ones.  

 Well, summer is winding down but storytelling is as alive and well as ever.  You can find many storytelling events on-line and the virtual experience will have you hooked on stories!  Then you will be looking for story events when we are able to be "out and about" more.  Timpanogos Storytelling Festival will be entirely virtual this year, giving you the chance to listen to ALL the tellers without having to choose.  It will be available for a small price for 10 days in September.  Check out their website.  This is an excellent opportunity to partake of storytelling (with amazing tellers) right from the comfort of your own home!  Remember, we are "wired" for story.  It's how we tend to naturally communicate...so try it out.

There is some exciting news in the "storytelling world"!  The Timpanogos Storytelling Festival, one of the most prestigious in the world, is offering the entire festival on-line this year.  That means that for just $20.00 for your entire family, you can have a dozen professional and international storytellers in your very home.  Go to TimpFest.org to buy your ticket.  After the end of July, the price will be a bit higher, so do it now! The Festival will be held September 10-12, 2020, but will be available for viewing until September 20th.  This is a rare opportunity to hear each story without having to choose which location you want to attend.  You also can watch whenever and wherever in your home you want.  This is the perfect opportunity to see the magic that is storytelling!  You can follow this up by doing some storytelling of your own in your family.

Today, more than ever, we need storytelling.  Many of us are somewhat confined to our homes with less to do than usual.  Now that summer is here and the kids are more free, they are also looking for activities that keep their interest.  Rather than binge watching a screen, why not spend some time sharing stories?  Reading books together is wonderful and so is sharing tales of your childhood with your children.  I have found that nothing keeps the grandchildren gathered around the adults during conversation time than telling incidents from my own or my children's past.  Sometimes, they even try to be quiet so we won't "know" they're listening!  It's such a great way to pass on family traits, culture and knowledge.  In this day we need to draw closer to each other in meaningful ways.  Try story!

The storytelling community has really stepped up and given to the world during this pandemic.  Many opportunities to listen to world-class tellers are available on the internet.  The Story Crossroads Festival was held on May 13th and though normally a live event, it was done entirely through technology.  YouTube and Facebook still have sessions to tune into and watch.  I have been posting stories several times a week on Facebook, as have many other tellers.  If you search, you will find, and possibly get "hooked" on storytelling.  Then after this situation is past, you may want to search out storytelling events that are live and continue to enjoy the magic that is story.

Due to the Coronavirus all live storytelling performances are cancelled or will be done digitally.  So, while you're at home and "sheltering in place", consider using storytelling with your family.  Share stories with your children and help them learn more about their heritage. There are also great tellers who have put their stories on YouTube during this interesting time.  Check out my website at stories-by-laurie.com to see a couple of my recorded offerings of story.  Happy Spring!