News Release

Featured Storytellers Announced for 31st Annual Haunting in the Hills Storytelling Festival

NPS

News Release Date: September 2, 2023

Contact: Christopher Derman, 423-569-9778

Get ready for a day filled with enchanting tales, soul-stirring music, vibrant crafts, food, and more at the 31st annual "Haunting in the Hills" Storytelling Festival. This special event is scheduled for Saturday, September 16, from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM (ET) at Bandy Creek Visitor Center area.

Featured 2023 storytellers

David Novak - David Novak combines the simple magic of theater with the evocative movements and voices of the master storyteller. Recipient of the Circle of Excellence Award from the National Storytelling Network, Novak is a master of all storytelling genres bringing hundreds of stories to life. Whether performing at the National Storytelling Festival before thousands or in front of a small group of wide-eyed children, audiences savor each sentence and anxiously anticipate the next. He immerses himself so completely in a story and embodies each character. His love of telling is inescapable.

Toni Simmons - As a professional storyteller, Toni Simmons brings new life to the stories she tells; with the use of rhythms, songs, and audience participation, she draws listeners in and places them in the story. Her work appeals to audiences of all ages, young and old, and includes a wide variety of literature from different cultures. Toni has conducted storytelling, creative dramatic and movement workshops in schools, community centers, and theaters, and has worked with teachers helping them to incorporate the arts into their curricula. Toni served as a Storyteller in Residence for the Ouachita Parish and Monroe City Schools in Northeast Louisiana and taught drama at The Hockaday School in Dallas, Texas.

Judy Baker - From stories of long ago and far away, to stories that happened just down the road, Judy can pull out a story from her eclectic repertoire sure to suit any occasion or venue. Traditional Appalachian tales, personal stories, folk tales, legends, and stories about things that go bump in the night are all stories she loves to tell and retell. Judy has told in many regional venues, including being named champion liar at the Cumberland Falls Storytelling Festival. She has also served residencies in local schools, teaching the art of storytelling to students and in workshops at storytelling festivals and conferences.

Linda Yemoto - After 35 years, Linda retired as a park naturalist in the San Francisco Bay area. She continues to tell stories both virtually and in person, to take nature walks with friends and family, and to advocate for the environment. She loves slipping natural and cultural information into the folktales and personal stories she tells. Linda is a member of Asian American Storytellers in Action, a group of professional Asian American storytellers that promotes awareness and appreciation of Asian American culture.

Bring your lawn chair or cozy blanket and become a part of this 31-year tradition that culminates with the increasingly spooky Haunting in the Hills ghost stories throughout the evening. Visitors can earn points towards the 2021 Go Big Challenge, all while immersing themselves in the natural beauty of one of America's treasured landscapes.

This annual event is free and open to the public, offering a day of wonder and imagination. For additional information on this special event as well as other events, call us at [phone], or visit online: https://www.nps.gov/biso/planyourvisit/storytelling.htm.