2024 Stone Soup Storytelling Festival

April 26-27, 2024

Public Schedule

Friday, April 26, 2024

8:00 am — Our 2024 Festival Headliners and Featured Tellers will be performing for the students of Spartanburg School District 4 Schools from 8:00 am until 11:30 am. PLEASE NOTE: These school performances are not open to the public.

10:00 am — Festival HQ Opens for Registration & Check-ins [MUSE134 — 134 S. Main Street, Woodruff SC 29388] (Children 12 and under admitted free when accompanied by an adult with a ticket.)

Noon — Stone Soup Lunch & Stories: [Humble Grounds — 132 S. Main Street, Woodruff SC 29388] Join Master of Ceremonies Walter Belcher for a light lunch with performances from Festival Headliners Lyn Ford, Papa Joe Gaudet, Paul Strickland, and Ray Christian. This event is not included in your Friday Day Ticket, but the purchase of a ticket to this event includes admission to all of the other events for Friday. Seating is limited.

2:30 pm — Open Mic – Street Front Stories: [MUSE134] Join us out front with Lona Bartlett for an open mic event featuring variations of the Stone Soup Story. Pass the microphone around for a rip-roaring good time! This event is included with your Friday Day Ticket.

4:00 pm — Folk Tales and Fairy Tales: [MUSE134]  Join Master of Ceremonies Walter Belcher for traditional folktales and fairy tales performed by Festival Headliner Papa Joe Gaudet as well as Festival Featured Tellers Amanda Lawrence and Julie Bradshaw. This event is included with your Friday Day Ticket.

5:15 pm — Ghost Stories and Comedy: [MUSE134] Join Master of Ceremonies Walter Belcher for some scary, funny, and scary funny stories by Festival Headliners Lyn Ford, Ray Christian, and Paul Strickland. This event is included with your Friday Day Ticket.

 

Saturday, April 27, 2024

9:00 am — Festival HQ Opens for Registration & Check-ins [MUSE134] (Children 12 and under admitted free when accompanied by an adult with a ticket.)

10:00 am — Linda Goodman New Voices: [MUSE134] This is one of our signature events! New Voices Coordinator Lona Bartlett (and the “Bowl of Destiny”) will host this opportunity to hear some of the most energetic and freshest voices in storytelling today as they compete for glory and prize money.  Come see performances by Hettie Farley, Naomi Faw, Nicolette Nordin Heavey, Liza Newell, Quameiha Raymond-Ducheine, Catherine Yael Serota, and Steve Tate. This event is included with your Saturday Day Ticket.

10:30 am — Tales from the Tellers: [Woodruff Library — 270 E Hayne St, Woodruff] Festival Headliners Papa Joe Gaudet and Lyn Ford will tell fairytales, folktales, fables, and other stories more suited to a younger audience. Lyn and Papa Joe’s stories will be a sure-fire hit with the “12 and under” crowd. This is a free event. NOTE: Children should be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian during this event. This event will be finished by noon.

Noon to 1:00 pm — Lunch — Attendees On Your Own- Eat Local

1:30 pm — Linda Goodman New Voices Awards Announced [MUSE134]

1:45 pm — Fairy Tales and Folktales: [MUSE134] Master of Ceremonies Walter Belcher hosts a session of fairytales and folktales from Festival Headliners Papa Joe Gaudet, Lyn Ford, and Paul Strickland. This event is included with your Saturday Day Ticket.

3:30 pm — Liars’ Contest: Whoppers and Tall Tales! [MUSE134] Master of Ceremonies Walter Belcher. Six (6) contestants will compete for prize money by telling their own ten (10) minute false but “totally believable“ stories. Our Festival Headliners and Featured Tellers will serve as judges for the contest. Amateurs welcome. 1st Place ($200); 2nd Place ($100); 3rd Place ($50) This event is included with your Saturday Day Ticket.

5:00 pm — FINALE! [MUSE134] Headliners and Featured Tellers come together to give one final performance to close out the main events of the Festival.  Enjoy tales from Lyn Ford, Amanda Lawrence, Papa Joe Gaudet, Julie Bradshaw, Ray Christian, and Paul Strickland.  This event is included with your Saturday Day Ticket.

6:45 pm — Breaking Bread Dinner and Stories: [Humble Grounds] Enjoy a private, cozy catered meal at Humble Grounds with stories by Festival Headliner Paul Strickland. Meet the tellers. Master of Ceremonies Walter Belcher will host. This event is not included in the Daily Ticket. Seating is limited. Reservations are required, and available until April 24th.

8:15 pm — Cabaret! [MUSE134] This is an adults only event.  Join us for the sauciest fun event in storytelling as we enjoy the talents of Festival Headliners and Featured Tellers.  The lineup includes Ray Christian, Julie Bradshaw, Papa Joe Gaudet, Amanda Lawrence, Paul Strickland, and Lyn Ford. This event is not included in the Saturday Day Ticket. $10 at the door.

“Happy Tales to You” – In Memory of Linda Goodman