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Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival Announces 2025 Storytellers

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The Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival has announced the dates of this year’s events, featuring three nationally acclaimed storytellers for performances on June 6 and 7. The annual festival returns live to the Historic Grove Theater, 123 Randolph Road, Oak Ridge.

The storytellers are:

• Anne Shimojima, whose folk tales from around the world and historical stories enlighten, educate, and inspire audiences, appearing for the first time in Oak Ridge.
• The Rev. Robert B. Jones Sr., an inspirational storyteller who celebrates history, humor, and the power of American Roots music, returning to the festival by popular request.
• Bil Lepp, a Flatwater Festival crowd favorite and an award-winning storyteller, author, recording artist, and History Channel host, who spins humorous, family-friendly tall tales and stories.

Each show is unique, as these storytellers will perform different stories at each of the events, beginning at 7 p.m. Friday, June 6, and continuing with three more shows at 10 a.m., 2 p.m., and 7 p.m. Saturday, June 7. Most performances will be at the Historic Grove Theater, and free events will be at the Oak Ridge Senior Center and the American Museum of Science and Energy.

The festival was inspired by the International Storytelling Center in Jonesborough, Tenn., where all three of this year’s storytellers have appeared.

Tickets may be purchased online at https://events.humanitix.com/2025-flatwater-tales-storytelling-festival/tickets or at the Flatwater Tales web site, https://flatwatertales.com, or in person with cash or check at Calamity’s Coffee, 219 Jackson Square, Oak Ridge. Individual tickets for each of the four shows in which all three storytellers will perform are $15 for each show, or $45 for a ticket for all four shows for the cost of three.

Several free programs will be offered.

Bil Lepp will present a “Taste of the Tales” 10 a.m. June 6 at the Oak Ridge Senior Center, 1405 Oak Ridge Turnpike, for ages 18 and up, as a gift to residents from the Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival and the City of Oak Ridge.

Anne Shimojima will share the history of her Japanese American family’s three generations of life in America since 1909, including the incarceration camp drama faced in the 1940s, with her story, “Looking Like the Enemy: An American WWII Story.” This free event at 3 pm. June 6 will be at the American Museum of Science and Energy, 115 E. Main St., Oak Ridge, presented by Flatwater Tales, AMSE, and the Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association.

Oak Ridge Historian Ray Smith will once again offer his free Historic Tour of Oak Ridge for both visitors here for the festival and residents from 12:30-2:45 p.m. on June 6. Participants are asked to register for the free performances at the ticket site, as space is limited.

For more information, see the website, https://flatwatertales.com. The Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival, which originated in 2018, is led by community volunteers, including volunteers from the three Rotary Clubs in Oak Ridge.

Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival this weekend

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Charlotte Blake Alston, Bil Lepp, and Josh Goforth will entertain this weekend at the Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival at the Historic Grove Theater in Oak Ridge. (Submitted photo)

The Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival kicks off Friday at the Historic Grove Theater in Oak Ridge with three nationally-known storytellers sharing tales and music that will make you laugh, sing, and learn as you listen.

The storytellers are Charlotte Blake Alston, Josh Goforth, and Bil Lepp.

“All three use the power of storytelling to entertain and educate audiences, with hilarious, exaggerated tales or with true stories that shed light on cultures and historic events,” a press release said.

At 7 p.m. Friday, Alston will tell the inspiring story of the Six-Triple-Eight, the first all-Black Women’s Army Corps battalion assigned to military duty in Europe during World War II. She received a standing ovation after telling the story at the 2022 National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough. [Read more…]

Volunteer team plans Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival

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Members of the Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival team gather in this year’s festival t-shirts. They are, from left, seated, Pat Postma, Matt Tucker, Liz Tucker, Becky Dodson, and Ram Uppuluri. From left, standing, are Vanessa Spratling, Martha Hobson, Kay Brookshire, Charles Crowe, Judy Wilson, Ray Smith, Sue Byrne, and Mark Watson. (Photo by Linde Mills)

Volunteers from civic, charitable, and business organizations throughout the community are planning to welcome three renowned storytellers to Oak Ridge for the June 7 and 8 Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival at the Historic Grove Theater.

Members of the three Oak Ridge Rotary Clubs are taking lead roles in the Flatwater Tales team planning the festival, which originated in 2018 as a community project led by Emily and Charlie Jernigan, Pat Postma, and Martha and David Hobson.

This year, Sue Byrne and Martha Hobson are co-chairing the Flatwater Executive Committee. Others on the Executive Committee are Lydia Birk, treasurer; Charles Crowe, leading the revenue team; Becky Dodson, heading the promotion team; and Pat Postma, secretary who is also on the performances team with Liz Tucker and Matt Tucker.

The storytellers coming to Flatwater Tales are Charlotte Blake Alston, Josh Goforth, and Bil Lepp. [Read more…]

Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival returns in June

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Charlotte Blake Alston (Submitted photo)

The Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival, inspired by the International Storytelling Center in Jonesborough, Tennessee, will bring three nationally known storytellers to Oak Ridge on June 7 and 8 with performances at the Historic Grove Theater, the Oak Ridge Public Library, and the Oak Ridge Senior Center.

The storytellers are Charlotte Blake Alston, Josh Goforth, and Bil Lepp.

“Each uses the power of storytelling to entertain and educate audiences, with hilarious, exaggerated tales or with true stories that shed light on cultures and historic events,” a press release said.

All three storytellers will perform at 7 p.m. Friday, June 7, and at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, June 8, at the Grove Theater. [Read more…]

Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival returning to Oak Ridge

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Lyn Ford, Bil Lepp, and Rev. Robert B. Jones (Images courtesy Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival)

The Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival will return to the Historic Grove Theater in Oak Ridge with nationally acclaimed storytellers Lyn Ford, Bil Lepp, and Rev. Robert B. Jones on June 2 and 3.

“Well-known to audiences throughout the country for their wit and wisdom, these three performers are guaranteed to make audiences laugh, cry, and reminisce,” a press release said. “The storytellers will perform different stories at each show on both days. In addition, two special workshops will be offered to precede the performances.”

The Friday, June 2, performance will be at 7 p.m. The next day, Saturday, June 3, will feature a memorable family show at 10 a.m. and shows at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children for each show, except for the June 3 Family Show at 10 a.m. Tickets for that show are $10 for adults and $5 for children. For the Flatwater Tales website, click here.

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Tickets on sale for Flatwater Storytelling Festival

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Rev. Robert B. Jones

The Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival in June will feature three nationally acclaimed storytellers: Lyn Ford, Bil Lepp, and Rev. Robert B. Jones.

“Well-known to audiences throughout the country for their wit and wisdom, these three performers are guaranteed to make audiences laugh, cry, and reminisce,” a press release said.

The annual festival is scheduled June 2-3 at the Historic Grove Theater in Oak Ridge.

The storytellers will perform different stories at each show. Two special workshops will be offered preceding the performances.

Tickets are now on sale at Eventbrite or in person at the Ferrell Shop in Oak Ridge (cash or check only). You can take advantage of the Early Bird Special and get a discount when you buy tickets for both the afternoon and evening shows on Saturday, the press release said.

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Tickets on sale for Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival

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The 5th Annual Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival in Oak Ridge will feature three world-class storytellers from June 2-4, 2022: Sheila Arnold, Bil Lepp, and Kim Weitkamp. (Submitted photo)

The Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival in Oak Ridge in June will feature three renowned storytellers: Sheila Arnold, Bil Lepp, and Kim Weitkamp. The festival is scheduled from June 2-4, and “early bird” tickets are now on sale. This fifth annual event will be in person with four shows at the Historic Grove Theater in Oak Ridge, and it will include the story of the Oak Ridge 85.

Early bird tickets can be purchased online at Eventbrite or the Ferrell Shop (cash or check only) in Oak Ridge. “This is a great Christmas gift for all ages,” a press release said.

The two-day storytelling event on Friday and Saturday will feature Arnold, Lepp and Weitkamp, “who are known to audiences nationwide for their wit, wisdom, and abilities to make audiences laugh, cry, and reminisce,” the press release said.

On Thursday, June 2, Lepp will lead a workshop.

Arnold will highlight the Friday night performance by telling the story of the Oak Ridge 85, the 85 brave young people who were the first to desegregate a school district in the South, the press release said.

“Few people know of this 1955 milestone event that took place in Oak Ridge,” the press release said. “Sheila will honor the Oak Ridge 85 by telling some of their stories.”

[Read more…]

Flatwater Tales Virtual Storytelling Festival is June 5

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Bil Lepp performs at the 2019 Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival, held at the Historic Grove Theater in Oak Ridge. (File/submitted photo)

The 2021 Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival, featuring three world renowned storytellers, is scheduled for Saturday, June 5.

The festival will offer an evening performance recorded in front of a live audience, three live online interactive workshops, and a live online after-party, a press release said.

The annual event is led by volunteers from the three Rotary Clubs in Oak Ridge. Due to concerns about COVID-19, this year’s event will be online.

The featured storytellers are three acclaimed performers: Andy Offutt Irwin, Bil Lepp, and Kim Weitkamp. They are known to audiences nationwide for their wit, wisdom, and abilities to make audiences laugh, cry, and reminisce, the press release said. The three storytellers have achieved national recognition and appear regularly at festivals, including the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee.

On Saturday, June 5, the Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival will present the art and magic of storytelling with a virtual performance at 8 p.m. The three tellers will record a live show that will be performed before a small audience exclusively for Flatwater Tales. This performance will include an unrehearsed improvisation segment, hosted by emcee Paula Gordon Lepp, a new feature in the storytelling world, the press release said.

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Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival will be virtual June 5

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Bil Lepp performs at the 2019 Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival, held at the Historic Grove Theater in Oak Ridge. (Submitted photo)

The Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival will feature three renowned storytellers on June 5. This year’s festival, led by volunteers from three Oak Ridge Rotary clubs, will be virtual because of COVID-19 concerns.

The featured storytellers will be Andy Offutt Irwin, Bil Lepp, and Kim Weitkamp. They are known to audiences nationwide for their wit, wisdom, and abilities to make audiences laugh, cry, and reminisce, a press release said.

Information on ticket purchases, prices, and additional workshops will be announced later. The evening show will be 8 p.m. Saturday, June 5.

[Read more…]

Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival canceled, virtual festival scheduled

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Source: Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival

The Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival and writing workshops scheduled for June have been canceled because of COVID-19.

But there will be a virtual storytelling festival on Saturday afternoon, April 18. Part of the proceeds will be used for COVID-19 relief, organizers said.

The Third Annual Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival had been scheduled for June 6 at the Historic Grove Theater in Oak Ridge. The writing workshops had been scheduled for June 4 and 5 at the University of Tennessee Arboretum.

“This is a challenging time for everyone, and this was a difficult decision,” organizers said. “However, we know that our top priority as a nation right now is to keep as many people as possible healthy.”

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Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival this weekend

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Pictured above from left to right are Carmen Agra Deedy, Bill Lepp, and Bobby Norfolk.

The Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival will feature three world renowned storytellers in Oak Ridge this weekend.

This annual event is led by the three Rotary Clubs in Oak Ridge, all volunteers. This second annual storytelling festival will be held at the Historic Grove Theater. Due to public demand at the 2018 performances, a larger venue and an additional performance have been added, a press release said.

Bil Lepp, Carmen Agra Deedy, and Bobby Norfolk will perform for the 2019 festival. They have achieved national and international recognition and appear regularly at festivals, including the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee, the press release said.

On Saturday, June 1, the Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival will present the art and magic of live storytelling with three performances at the Historic Grove Theater: 10 a.m. to noon, 2 to 5 p.m. (with intermission), and 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. (with intermission). There will be different stories at each session. Although the stories would be rated PG, it is suggested that the 10 a.m. performance would be most enjoyable for children five and older as it is a special family-oriented performance, the press release said. A free crafts-for-kids activity will be offered beginning at 9 a.m. at the Grove Theater.

[Read more…]

Writing workshop on Friday starts Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival

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Minton Sparks

Renowned writer and storyteller Minton Sparks will present another writing workshop this year as part of the 2019 Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival that starts on Friday.

The writing workshop is scheduled from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday, May 31, at the University of Tennessee Arboretum Auditorium at 901 South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge.

“Let Minton help you craft stories from your family history and experiences, and structure it for effectiveness,” a press release said. “Join us for this workshop that will ‘spark’ your creativity and inspire you in your writing journal. This is the first event of the 2019 Flatwater Tales weekend.”

Minton Sparks will conduct a three-hour interactive writing workshop titled “My Crazy Kin—Transform Your Family Stories into a Compelling Personal Narrative.”

[Read more…]