News Release

Voices of Tradition and Imagination Take Center Stage at 33rd Annual Haunting in the Hills Storytelling Festival

News Release Date: August 27, 2025

Contact: Christopher Derman, [phone]

Oneida, Tennessee - Storytelling bridges cultures, sparks imagination, and preserves traditions. In Appalachia, it’s a living thread connecting generations and shared history. On Saturday, September 20, from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM (ET), Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area will host the 33rd Annual Haunting in the Hills Storytelling Festival at Bandy Creek Visitor Center area. This free family event offers storytelling, music, crafts, and activities set against the stunning Big South Fork backdrop.

This year’s featured storytellers bring a remarkable blend of heritage, humor, and heart:

• Karin Amano — Trained in traditional Japanese song, dance, and theater, Karin brings an artistry that bridges continents. From Walt Disney World’s Epcot stage to cultural festivals across the U.S., she has enchanted audiences with Japanese folktales that are as rich in tradition as they are universal in theme.
• Norm Brecke — An award-winning teacher turned full-time storyteller, Norm infuses his performances with laughter, music, and a love of tales from many traditions. Whether spinning a historical yarn, a folktale, or an original adventure, he brings audiences along with a twinkle in his eye and a guitar in his hands.
• Tamara Green — With roots in Memphis and Florida, Tamara draws from African folklore, urban legends, and Southern history to craft stories that inspire empathy, spark curiosity, and delight listeners of all ages. A seasoned festival performer and mentor to young storytellers, her voice carries wisdom, wit, and warmth.
• Anne Rutherford — Equal parts humor and mystery, Anne’s performances range from quirky tall tales to eerie ghost stories. She blends personal adventures with West Coast folklore, delivering award-winning storytelling that keeps audiences laughing and sometimes looking over their shoulders.

From sunrise to moonlight, the festival will celebrate the enduring power of the human voice to entertain, teach, and unite. Guests are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket, settle in, and be transported by stories that will linger long after the last tale is told.

For additional information on this special event as well as other events, call us at [phone], or visit online at: https://www.nps.gov/biso/planyourvisit/storytelling.htm.
 

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