La Crosse Storytelling Festival

The Pump House Regional Arts Center is thrilled to welcome back the Bluff Country Tale Spinners for this summer's La Crosse Storytelling Festival! The Festival kicks off on July 19 at 7:00 pm with stories by nationally celebrated tellers, Kevin Kling and Lyn Ford. Then, on July 20, the whole family is invited to a free Children's Program with Hans Mayer at 2:00 pm. Stick around for a workshop with Kevin Kling at 4:00 pm. The festival culminates with an evening of performances starting at 5:00 pm that features a spectacular line up of storytellers and a Luna Story Slam. Enjoy all events at the Pump House at 119 King Street in downtown La Crosse.

The Bluff Country Storytellers continue to meet their mission of presenting the premier storytelling event of the upper Midwest with performances that edify, educate, and entertain people of all ages and walks of life. This year's program welcomes Kevin Kling, a renowned playwright, actor, author, storyteller and cultural advocate, His work is infused with an innate sense of humor and reflects the life challenges he has surmounted, including a congenital birth disorder and partial paralysis from a near-fatal motorcycle accident. Winner of the many awards and fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, The McKnight Foundation, The Minnesota State Arts Board, and The Bush Foundation, Kevin is hailed as a Minnesota state treasure. Kevin is a frequent commentator for National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered” and now appears regularly on TPT’s “Almanac”. He was featured in the Regional Emmy Award winning PBS documentary “Kevin Kling: Lost and Found”. See Kevin perform at the festival on both Friday and Saturday night and receive tips on how to share stories of your own during his workshop - Getting Started with a Story.

This year's Storytelling Festival also welcomes Lyn Ford. A nationally recognized and award-winning fourth-generation storyteller, author and educator, Lyn shares folktale adaptations, spooky tales, and original stories rooted in her family’s multicultural African-American Appalachian (Affrilachian) heritage. Ford’s “Home-Fried Tales” are seasoned with rhythm, rhyme, audience interaction, humor, and heart. Lyn is a teaching artist with the Ohio Alliance for Arts Education, a workshop facilitator for the Ohio-based collaborative initiative of the Kennedy Center, and a Thurber House mentor for young authors. She is also an award-winning author and a two-time recipient of the NSN ORACLE Circle of Excellence award. She recently completed a residency at the International Storytelling Center.

The Storytelling Festival would not be complete without the stories from our favorite local tellers. Returning this year are Eddie Allen, who shares stories through music, and Michael Scott, who captivates audiences with humorous personal anecdotes, tales of suspense, and impersonations of Mark Twain. Hans Mayer rounds things out with his highly energetic songs for children. Whether singing about bugs, worms, underwear, or the environment, his lyrics bring joy to all ages. Lastly - the festival welcomes you to share your story. The Luna Story Slam invites everyone to share a 5-minute, true-ish story to a supportive audience.

Doors to the Pump House open an hour before each event, with seating starting 30 minutes prior to curtain. Food and beverages will be available onsite throughout the festival. Tickets to the Friday and Saturday evening performances, as well as to the workshop with Kevin Kling, can be purchased at the door, online at thepumphouse.org, or by calling the Pump House at 608-785-1434 during business hours. The Children's Program with Hans Mayer is free to attend. No tickets or reservations are required.

Schedule of Events:

July 20, 2024

2:00 pm Children's Program with Hans Mayer

4:00 pm Workshop with Kevin Kling - Getting Started with a Story

5:00 pm Eddie Allen

5:15 pm Luna Story Slam

6:15 pm Eddie Allen 6:45 pm Lyn Ford

7:30 pm Michael Scott 8:00 pm Intermission

8:20 pm Kevin Kling

Tickets: Visit www.thepumphouse.org | Call 608-785-1434 | Buy at the door.

More information about this year's Storytelling Festival can be found at thepumphouse.org or by contacting the Pump House at 608-785-1434.