Historic Oak View County Park will again play host to some tall tales as Wake County Public Libraries holds its 22nd annual Storytelling Festival, Friday and Saturday, September 17-18.
Historic Oak View, located at the Wake County Office Park on Carya Drive, just off Poole Road at the I-440 Beltline, is the outdoor setting for the Festival. The main event, which is free and open to the public, will take place Saturday around Oak View's nostalgic gardens, buildings and trees from noon to 5 p.m., rain or shine.
Families of all ages are invited to bring picnic baskets and blankets on Saturday for an afternoon of legends and folk tales from tellers across the nation. Featured storytellers include Bobby Norfolk, Timmy Abell, Willa Brigham, and The Healing Force. These spoken-word artists will rotate at 30-minute intervals among four sites at Oak View throughout the day. Food vendors will be on site and free hayrides will be available for all who attend.
The Festival kicks off on Friday morning, September 17, with an invitation-only event for Wake County third-grade students and teachers. More than 3,500 have attended this portion of the event each year, sitting in the pecan grove as tellers from across the region regale them with stories.
On Sunday, September 19, Libraries will collaborate with Exploris to feature Bobby Norfolk, three-time Emmy winner, in a storytelling concert. He will present two sessions, 1:30-2:15 and 3:30-4:15. This event is free to the public and does not require museum admission. Exploris is located in downtown Raleigh at 201 E. Hargett St.
For more information on the Festival, please call Benjie Hester, 856-6725, or Susan Adams, 662-2265, with Wake County Public Libraries.