By JD Adler The weather was cold, but the stories were hot at the 41st Annual Florida Storytelling Festival. This was my first story festival. Suncoast Storytelling Inc. (St, Petersburg) had honored me with a scholarship to go in my inaugural year as member, for which I am extremely grateful as I had an amazing …
First Time Attendee Shares Memories of the 2025 Florida Storytelling Festival Read More »
Eugene (Gene) Q. Belote, 91, of Dunedin, Florida, passed away on Sunday, February 2, 2025, at Empath Suncoast Hospice Care Center in Palm Harbor. He enjoyed storytelling. Gene was a master in telling true personal stories from his youth and as a national sales manager. Gene and Maureen both were active members of the Tampa …
Long before there was a Florida Storytelling Festival at the Lakeside Inn in Mount Dora, there was the annual Story Camp. Many of our current storyteller members have fond memories of the days when Florida tellers would gather each spring to celebrate storytelling. Those memories will be shared on Friday night (Jan. …
The large white rocking chairs on the front porch of the historic Lakeside Inn in Mount Dora are inviting. And those rockers will soon be filled with folks listening to a wide variety of storytellers. Even before the annual Florida Storytelling Festival opens on Jan. 23 plans are to have two pre-festival porch telling …
On the Porch with Florida Storytellers. Come. Gather ‘round and listen! Read More »
The Florida Storytelling Festival launched our first Liars Contest in 2023. And that’s no lie. We are coming upon the third Liars Contest at the festival in January. The winner and champion teller of tall tales that first year was Pete Abdalla. He returned to defend his crown and won again at the 2024 Festival. …
Storyteller and motivational expert Sue O’Halloran will conduct a workshop that will help sharpen your storytelling skills on Thursday, Jan. 23, prior to the opening of the Florida Storytelling Festival. O’Halloran, a writer, story artist, television personality, and keynote speaker, is offering her successful workshop on “Teaching Without Preaching: The Art of Edutainment” from 9:30am …
As we approach Thanksgiving and the holiday season in December, it’s not too early to make plans to attend the annual Florida Storytelling Festival on the last weekend in January at the historic Lakeside Inn in Mount Dora. Tickets to the Festival make great holiday gifts. There will be four days of storytelling performances, including …
Spread the Word! Tell Your Friends! The Florida Storytelling Festival is Coming Soon! Read More »
Phyllis NeSmith, a former president and long-time member of the Florida Storytelling Association, passed away in August. She was 94. She was a well-known Florida storyteller who teamed with her friend and fellow storyteller Myra Davis of Bartow to perform as the “Peace River Tale Tellers”. Both Phyllis and Myra were retired schoolteachers who had …
Remembering Phyllis NeSmith, Florida Storyteller Read More »
Ray Gant, a longtime member of the Sandcastle Storytellers and a past president of the group, passed away on July 20 at his home in Port Orange. He was 85. He was active and served as an officer in several Toastmaster groups in Brevard County, Jacksonville, and Volusia County. He won several awards for his …
By Walt Belcher What is the best book for storytelling? A book of stories? Or a how-to book on the craft of storytelling? If you are a storyteller, then it’s very likely that both kinds of books are on your shelves. My personal collection includes the classics such as “Aesop’s Fable” and “Grimm’s Fairy Tales” …
