🎤 Tales Among the Oaks Storytelling Festival Brings World-Class Performers to Dayton, Tennessee

Dayton is preparing to host a full weekend of live storytelling this October, drawing audiences from across the region to experience master storytellers in an intimate, community setting. The Tales Among the Oaks Festival represents a rare opportunity for residents and visitors to encounter nationally recognized performers in a small-town atmosphere, with the courthouse and downtown as backdrop.

📍 Festival Details & Ticket Information

The Tales Among the Oaks Storytelling Festival takes place October 16-17 at Centennial Park, 391 2nd Avenue, Dayton, TN 37321. Weekend passes are $25 per person, offering access to multiple performances across both days. Tickets are available online at clydewroddy.org, in person at Clyde W. Roddy Public Library, or at the festival itself. Ticket pickup begins Friday, October 16 at 5:00 PM. 🎟️

🎭 Featured Storytellers & Performance Schedule

The festival features three nationally recognized storytellers: Donald Davis, a master storyteller from Western North Carolina known for turning everyday memories into unforgettable tales; Josh Goforth, a multi-instrumentalist and storyteller from Madison County, North Carolina, who blends Appalachian heritage with music and narrative; and Bil Lepp, a five-time winner of the National Storytelling Festival’s Liars’ Contest, celebrated for his wit and larger-than-life characters. Additional performers include Jon Jon Wesolowski, Michael Palmer, Steve & Sharon Honeycutt, Daniel Gleason, and Kelley Kroeker. ✨

Friday, October 16 – An Evening of Stories: Doors open at 6:00 PM. The main performance runs 7:00-8:45 PM, featuring Donald Davis, Josh Goforth, and Bil Lepp.

Saturday, October 17 – A Full Day of Storytelling: Doors open at 8:00 AM. The day includes five performance sessions with breaks and meal times:

• 9:00-10:35 AM: Donald Davis, Jon Jon Wesolowski, Josh Goforth, and Michael Palmer
• 11:00 AM-12:30 PM: Bil Lepp, Steve & Sharon Honeycutt, Donald Davis, and Kelley Kroeker
• 2:00-3:30 PM: Josh Goforth, Daniel Gleason, Bil Lepp, and Steve & Sharon Honeycutt
• 3:50-5:20 PM: Donald Davis, Bil Lepp, and Josh Goforth
• 7:00-8:45 PM: Josh Goforth, Bil Lepp, and Donald Davis

🍂 What to Expect & Community Atmosphere

The festival invites attendees to bring cushions or folding chairs and settle in under the fall sky for an evening and full day immersed in storytelling tradition. The courthouse will be illuminated, and downtown Dayton businesses will be open, creating an opportunity for visitors to explore local shops and restaurants between performances. Lunch and supper breaks are built into Saturday’s schedule, allowing attendees to dine locally. 🌳

Organizers emphasize that the festival welcomes both longtime storytelling enthusiasts and first-time listeners, positioning the event as an accessible entry point into a centuries-old art form rooted in Appalachian culture and community gathering.

💡 Why This Matters for the Region

Storytelling festivals celebrate oral tradition and cultural heritage while drawing visitors to small towns during fall season. For Dayton and the surrounding region, the event offers a weekend focused on live performance, community connection, and local economic activity-a counterpoint to screen-based entertainment and a chance for residents to experience nationally touring artists without traveling far. ❤️