Plans are underway to keep storytelling as a part of the spring and fall Barberville Pioneer festivals as well as making storytelling a part of the monthly “Playing on the Porches” events held there.
In May of 2022, the Florida Storytelling Association blog recounted how storytelling has been a part of the Barberville festivals for years.
Storytellers Mary Lee and Frank Sweet have organized and supervised the storytelling there for more than a decade. They are moving to another part of the state and have been searching for help to continue the story tradition at Barberville.
Stepping up to help this year is Joanna Demarest, a nationally acclaimed storyteller who is currently serving as storyteller in residence at Barberville. She brings to life the stories of Lucretia Underhill, an 1800s pioneer woman who lived in the Underhill home which has been preserved at Barberville.
Recently, Joanna launched a storytelling section at the monthly “Playing on the Porches” event.
This event, from 9 am to 4 pm on the first Saturday of the month, features vendors, food, musical performances at four venues, and demonstrations of pioneer skills such as butter churning, woodworking, weaving, chair caning and more.
On Saturday, Feb 4, tellers gathered in a barn on the site and delighted the audiences with their stories. Among the tellers were several members of the Sandcastle Storytelling Guild including Bill Brennan, Charlotte Dickens, Nancy Anderson, Peter Giachetti, and Paul Dudley Bishop.
Also sharing stories was Eric Hoeppner, a retired middle school science teacher who performs as Tellem Tall, and Walt Belcher, of the Suncoast Storytellers.
Joanna says the event was a success and drew a good audience. Many of the same tellers will be back for a March 4th “Playing on the Porch” storytelling event.
The annual Barberville Spring Frolic on April 3 and 4 will feature storytelling on both days. Plans for May and June are to be determined. The “Playing on the Porch” events take a break in the summer and resume in October.
The fall Barberville Country Jamboree is set for Nov. 4 and 5.
Joanna, who divides her year between Florida and California, will be leaving Florida for the summer. She plans to return in the fall.
Joanna has been telling stories for more than 25 years. She specializes in American, historical, traditional, and southern tales, ghost stories, personal narrative, her own unique Ladybug Stories© and Storytelling Workshops.
The Barberville Pioneer Settlement is located on a 30-acre tract near the intersection of State Road 40 and US 17 in Volusia County (a few miles north of Deland and west of Ormand Beach).
Founded in 1976, it is run by a private, non-profit volunteer organization. There are 19 historical structures and over 10,000 artifacts. It is open for self-guided tours from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday-Sunday.
The centerpiece of the Pioneer Settlement is the original Barberville Central High School (circa 1919). During the festivals there are pioneer demonstrations and musical entertainment as well as storytelling. Erik Nielsen, public liaison for the Barberville Settlement, has said that before COVID, the festivals averaged between 1,000 and 5,000 visitors over the two-day events.
For more information about becoming a teller at Barberville contact Joanna Demarest at joanna@joannademarest.com
Great to know there will be a continuing storytelling presence at Bville! Huge thanks to MaryLee and Frank for all their years of support and preparation. And best wished to Joanna for the times to come.