21st Annual Haunting in the Hills Storytelling Festival

The annual Haunting in the Hills Storytelling Festival is held each September at Bandy Creek.

National Park Service

 

The 21st Annual "Haunting in the Hills" Storytelling Festival is scheduled for Saturday, September 21, 2013. Make plans now to join thousands of folks who will come to the Bandy Creek Field and enjoy the beautiful Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area for a fun-filled day of stories, music, crafts and more. Craft classes and concerts are free and open to the public.

The featured tellers for 2013 are Doug Elliott, Lyn Ford, Jill Johnson, Tim Tingle, and Faye Wooden. In 2012 approximately nine thousand students in area schools experienced dynamic storytelling programs by world renowned storytellers during festival outreach programs. Local schools will again have an opportunity to see these tellers in action during the week leading up to the event.

Two storytelling concerts will be held in big tent at the Bandy Creek Field. From 1:00 PM till 3:00 PM our talented featured tellers will present family-oriented stories for all ages. The scary story concert will begin after the lights go out at 8:00 PM and will conclude at 10:00 PM Eastern Time. This concert will begin with scary stories for the whole family, and after intermission more intense stories intended for older children and adults will be shared.

Bring a blanket or chair so you can relax under the tent while you enjoy the stories. Bring a flash light so you can find your vehicle or camp site after the scary stories!

Several family activities will be scheduled throughout the Saturday event:

• Several local food vendors will be available on site to sell their fare.
• Selected area artisans will be invited to the festival to demonstrate their various skills and sell their fine craft items, and storytelling resources will be available for purchase during the day.
• Traditional craft classes will be taught from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM. Classes offered in years past have included crochet basics, basket making, soap carving, quilting, pioneer skills, candle wick embroidery and dulcimer classes.
• Each year children young and old have enjoyed the Old Timey Toys display all day. Several activities are planned just for children, and parents are encouraged to supervise youngsters while they participate in these activities.
• Mountain dulcimer music will be performed by the Knoxville Area Dulcimer Club throughout the day, and an hour-long dulcimer concert will begin under the big tent at 4:00 PM followed by bluegrass music at 5:30 PM.