By Jim Kissane
The Suncoast Storytellers guild has an exceptionally busy schedule of public programs and community events for October and November 2026.
The Suncoast group, a premier 501(c)(3) arts nonprofit dedicated to preserving the spoken word, serves communities across Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, and Manatee counties.
The guild continues its mission to foster literacy, bridge cultural divides, and amplify the voices of children and seniors through live narrative.
This autumn, the public is invited to experience the transformative power of storytelling through several high-profile events:
Sunday Market Exhibitions (October): Guild members continue to connect directly with the community, exhibiting and sharing local lore at the regular Sunday Market at USF St. Pete. Campus from 10 am to 4 pm.
Safety Harbor Arts and Music Center (October 7 and November 4): Tellers will take the stage to bring a vibrant tapestry of spoken-word performances to Safety Harbor every first Wednesday of the month beginning at 7 pm. ,Hosted by Walt Belcher.
Watershed Stories Community Showcase (October 23): This landmark environmental humanities program highlights stories being told by local community members tracking local water-quality data, personal memories, and regional ecology.
The Second Saturday Open Mic in St. Petersburg is held each month at the Sunshine Center in downtown St. Petersburg. Free and open to the public from 4 to 6 pm in October and continuing throughout the year.
Annual “Campfire Stories” at the Tampa Theatre (Oct. 27, 7 PM): A seasonal tradition featuring an evening of eerie, suspenseful, and spooky storytelling on stage at the historical theater in downtown Tampa.
The Suncoast Storytelling Festival (November 14): The guild’s signature annual event kicks off Saturday, November 14, with Workshops and story swap from Noon PM to 5:00 PM, followed by a blockbuster evening concert at the Sunshine Center in St. Petersburg. This marks our second year of the festival featuring Florida-based tellers: Linda Schulyer Ford, Andy Russell, Mij Byrum, and Tamara Green.
Cemetery Historical Performance (November 21): Bringing history to life through site-specific narrative, members will deliver a special historical storytelling performance at the New Hope Baptist Church cemetery that day featuring Suncoast members as historical characters.
In addition to these signature public gatherings, Suncoast Storytellers maintains active digital and peer-to-peer programming.
Members regularly participate in recurring online story swaps, including the “Last Tuesday Swap” and “Full Moon” sessions, which offer an informal, collaborative space for both new and experienced storytellers to hone their craft and receive constructive feedback.
Through these volunteer-powered initiatives, Suncoast Storytellers continues to reduce isolation among seniors, boost reading confidence in youth, and ensure that every individual’s unique story has a place to be heard.
For festival registration, event schedules, or to learn how you can support the guild’s mission, please visit www.suncoaststorytellers.org or contact Executive Director Jim Kissane at JimKissane@SuncoastStorytellers.org or (813) 765-4225.
Attention Florida tellers: Feel free to submit similar information to our BLOG about what your guild is doing.
Send the info to wbelcher47@yahoo,com