Let Me Tell Ya! Storytellers

Returns to Floyd Living Traditions Festival

We’re excited to announce that Let Me Tell Ya! Storytellers will be returning to this year’s Floyd Living Traditions Festival on Saturday, August 23, 2025 at the Floyd Center for the Arts! Let Me Tell Ya! is proud to be partnering with Blue Ridge Story Space for this special event.

Don’t miss this annual celebration of our mountain heritage! Join us from 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM for a free, family-friendly day filled with the heart and soul of Floyd County—traditional arts, music, crafts, and, of course, live storytelling throughout the day.

Experience the magic of stories passed down through generations as our master storytellers bring powerful, funny, and heartfelt tales to life—honoring Appalachian storytelling heritage and connecting generations through the spoken word. From traditional mountain tales to contemporary adventures, there’s something for everyone. Whether you’re young or young at heart, discover tales that will make you laugh, cry, and remember why storytelling matters.

What to Expect: 🎶 Live performances 🧶 Hands-on workshops 🎨 Artisan demonstrations 📖 Continuous storytelling sessions 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family-friendly fun—all day long!

Where else can you hear world-class storytellers for free while enjoying mountain crafts and music? Come celebrate the traditions that continue to inspire and connect our community. Bring the whole family—create memories that will become stories of their own, and meet the storytellers who are your neighbors with incredible tales to share. Perfect for introducing children to the oral tradition that shaped our mountains!

Festival Details: 📅 Saturday, August 23, 2025 📍 Floyd Center for the Arts ⏰ 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM 🎟️ Free admission, free parking, and priceless entertainment!

Storytelling Schedule:

10:30 AM — Wayne Jordan and Mark Fryburg: “Knocks, Nibbles, and Near Misses” Wayne presents “You Ate What, Now?” and “Three Knocks for the Holler Man” while Mark performs “Caviar Frogs,” “Typewriter Requiem,” and “Kitten”

12:00 PM — Paul Armstrong: “Help Wanted” Finding purpose in impressionable moments

1:00 PM — Clinton Atwater: “Voices from the Holler” featuring stories reworked based on research on the Blue Ridge Mountains and Floyd County

2:00 PM — Teresa Calhoun: “Once Upon a Twist” renditions of “Ashpet,” “High Beam,” and “The Fisherman and His Wife”

3:00 PM — Chriss Tarantino: “Traveling is Seasoning for the Soul” Travel adventures for business and pleasure

4:00 PM — Hettie Farley: “The Way I Heard It, The Way I Tell It” featuring stories rich in Appalachian traditions.

5:00 PM — Peter Jonas: “There’s a Song about That” Story Swap – sharing songs and/or other “earworms”

Let the stories live on—see you in Floyd!