Library

The Art of Storytelling Comes to Encinitas

Reading Time: 2 minutes

From campfire stories to Celtic folklore to true holocaust survivor and military service accounts, the Encinitas Library Storytelling Festival has something for everyone.

The second annual festival will take place from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 21 at the Encinitas Library, 540 Cornish Drive. The event will feature more than 25 storytellers on three stages to entertain various age groups.

“This free festival is a chance for people of all ages to fill their hearts and imaginations with the magic of stories brought to life,” said Patti Christensen, a professional storyteller from Oceanside, who will be featured as part of the Patchwork Players.

More than 200 people attended the event last year. Even more people are expected to attend the indoor event this year, San Diego County Library Encinitas Branch Manager Amy Geddes said.

The library teams up with the Storytellers of San Diego group to feature various styles of storytelling. Each storyteller uses different methods. One storyteller may interact with the audience while another may use music, puppets or other props. The storytellers range from nationally-known professional storytellers to local people telling their true oral histories.

“We’re especially excited about the sessions we call “Real People, Real Stories,” Festival organizer Marilyn McPhie said.

A prisoner of war in Germany during World War II and a combat photographer during the Korean War are among the veterans who will be speaking. The session is sponsored by the Veteran’s History Museum. Another session will feature stories from four survivors of the holocaust.

The festival is an all-ages event but the fun April Fools and Campfire Stories performances may appeal more to young children. Teenagers with an interest in anime might like the hands-on Animoto workshop, where they can learn how to turn their stories, photographs and music into videos to share with their friends and family.

If offbeat and darker stories are more your thing, try out The Best of San Diego Fringe adult concert.

Even business leaders may take interest in a morning workshop offered by a nationally-known expert in the use of storytelling in corporations. Reservations are required for this session due to space limitations.

“This is not your typical storytime,” said Geddes. “None of (the storytelling) is written. It’s completely offbook.”

For a festival program that includes a schedule for the three stages and lists all storyteller participants, please visit http://www.sdcl.org/happening.html and click on the pdf. To make reservations for the business event, please call (760) 753-7376.

Yvette Urrea Moe is a communications specialist with the County of San Diego Communications Office. Contact