Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival

FLATWATER TALES VIRTUAL STORYTELLING FESTIVAL SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 3-4

World-Class Internationally acclaimed storytellers to perform, share laughter, tears and create memories

The Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival, featuring three world renowned storytellers, has announced the 2022 schedule and tickets are now available for the June 3 and 4 performances. This annual event will return live at the Historic Grove Theater in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

Early bird tickets can be purchased online at Eventbrite or the Ferrell Shop (cash or check only) in Oak Ridge. This is a great Christmas gift for all ages.

The two-day event will feature storytellers Sheila Arnold, Bil Lepp and Kim Weitkamp known to audiences nationwide for their wit, wisdom and abilities to make audiences laugh, cry and reminisce.

Two special events have been added to the weekend: a workshop by Bil Lepp on Thursday, June 2^nd; a special tour of Oak Ridge by Oak Ridge Historian Ray Smith on Friday June 3^rd.

Highlighting the Friday night performance will be acclaimed storyteller SheilaArnold who will tell the story of the Scarboro 85, the 85 brave young people who were the first to desegregate a school district in the South. Few people know of this 1955 milestone event that took place in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Sheila will honor the Scarboro 85 by telling some of their stories. Storytellers Bil Lepp and Kim Weitkamp will also perform Friday evening. Friday evening tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children.

There will be three shows on June 4^th. and the storytellers will share different stories for each performance. The morning family show, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. will offer tickets at $10 for adults and $5 for school-age children. The afternoon show is from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and the evening show is from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Tickets for the afternoon and evening performances are $25 for each show. Early bird pricing is currently available at $40/ticket for both the Saturday afternoon/evening shows. For groups of 10 or more tickets will be $20 each for either the afternoon or evening performances.

Storyteller Bil Lepp will present a special workshop “Bringing a Story to Life and Including Your Audience in the Experience” on Thursday June 2, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the UT Arboretum Auditorium in Oak Ridge. Tickets for workshop are $50 and are also available at Eventbrite and the Ferrell Shop in Oak Ridge. The Ferrell Shop accepts cash or check only.

A first-time special event has been added to this year’s Flatwater Tales. Oak Ridge Historian Ray Smith will lead a tour of some historic Oak Ridge sites on Friday, June 3^rd at 1 p.m. Tickets for this free tour are available on Eventbrite. The event is FREE but registration is required. Learn the history of Oak Ridge by spending the afternoon with Ray.

The Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival is led by volunteers from all three Oak Ridge Rotary Clubs.