Come with me into an enchanted garden. It is high summer and the pergola at the opening in the hedge is laden with fragrant pink roses. Stepping through is like entering a different world, one where the imagination rules. Children are gathering on the lawn in hushed expectancy. The little ones sit at the front, the older ones behind. There is the sound of a silver bell and there she is—The Story Princess! She floats into the garden in a pale yellow gown. She must be a real princess because there is a tiara on her head. She must be a magic princess because she has a sparkling wand in her hand. And then, with "Once upon a time…" the real magic does begin—stories! The Three Sillies try to rake the moon out of their pond. A magic pot won’t stop and fills up the village with porridge. A brave little tailor kills seven at one blow. And then the story hour is over for another year. The Story Princess floats away but the magic feeling lasts a lifetime.

This image from my childhood hometown summer celebration is real. For me, the magic now is perpetuated each year in the Weber State University Storytelling Festival, and I arrive with the same sense of hushed expectancy to be whisked away into other worlds.

This festival will be filled with the magic of national storytellers Eshu Bumpus, and Motoko from Massachusetts, Antonio Sacre from California and Kim Weitkamp from Virginia. All four are new to the festival but all are highly regarded in the storytelling world as award-winning, audience-engaging artists in their own rights. They are joined by storyteller extraordinaire Teresa Clark from Idaho, 38 other Festival Tellers and 66 Youth Storytellers representing schools in four school districts as well as area charter and private schools. Stories for all ages and interests will fill 53 separate story events at 18 venues throughout the area.

So, welcome. Come on in to our enchanted gardens. The magic awaits you for "Once upon a time…"

Ann L. Ellis, Chair
WSU Storytelling Festival

Thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, all Storytelling Festival events are FREE of CHARGE except the Storytelling Festival Banquet on Tuesday evening. For banquet tickets, please contact Lynda Goucher at 801-626-6278.