Tampa Hillsborough County Storytelling Festival

Mission :

The Tampa-Hillsborough County Storytelling Festival engages people of all ages in the enjoyable pursuit of literature and nurtures the preservation of the oral tradition of storytelling. The Festival provides an opportunity for inter-generational, multi-cultural interaction through story and exposure to nationally renown storytellers. Both children and adults receive training and actively participate in the ancient art of storytelling.

Goals and Objectives
To renew and promote the art of storytelling for children and adults.
To introduce some of the best stories in the oral tradition to children and adults.
To develop self-confidence and public speaking skills in children.
To involve special populations such as the elderly, the handicapped, speakers of English as a second language, and black communities in the renewal of this art.
To better prepare children for participation in the art by providing in-service training in the art of storytelling for recreation leaders, librarians, and teachers.
To bring to the Tampa area a festival introducing folk tradition as presented through the telling and hearing of good stories; using the local talent of Hillsborough County.