Sierra Storytelling Festival

In a time of 6 lane freeways, high speed internet and split
decisions, the Sierra Storytelling Festival steps out of a busy schedule
to take a breath and celebrate in a style reminiscent of our ancestors
gathering around a fire. A group of powerful volunteers provide a festival
to hear stories, to build culture, to review traditions.

Stories not only entertain us but they reach inside to our humanity and
bind us together, open our minds and help us imagine a better future.
For 39 years the Sierra Storytelling Festival has invited a diverse
group of Tellers at the top of their game, from the far reaches of the
world, to gather together for one magical weekend of tales, lessons and
anecdotes.

Please join us on Friday and Saturday, June 26th and 27th,
2026 on the North Columbia Schoolhouse Cultural Centers’ outdoor
stage to set down your worries and rejoice in this ancient tradition.
This year’s festival features Kevin Kling, Michael D. McCarty, Kim
Weitkamp, Amy Bluemel, and Yasu Ishida, along with guest teller, Roopa
Monhan.

Venue is located in beautiful San Juan Ridge, outside of Nevada City.

It starts out on Friday June 26th at 1pm with a storytelling workshop,
“Tantalizing Tools to Teach telling” led by Micheal D McCarty. The
workshop is open to any level of experience, for you to learn the basics
or hone your skills. Michael led a similar workshop in 2017 to rave
reviews and huge grins.

At 4 pm on Friday, June 26th there will be a Children’s story hour
with Magician Yasu Ishida. This hour is dedicated to the young listeners
of our community while the rest of the weekend is geared towards a
more mature audience.

Following the Children’s hour will be a local teller showcase featuring
the one and only Dalrymple- known for his wild imagination and
puppetry shows.

The evening concert on Friday, June 26th from 7:30 -10:30, will have
stories from each of our featured and guest tellers. Our Master of
Cerermonies will be Tim Erenta.For more than 25 years, Tim has been
shepherding giants, dragons, and talking frogs into contemporary times
through his storytelling. He has told fairy tales on stages from
Jonesborough, Tennessee, to Chennai, India, performing in theaters,
museums, camps, churches, nightclubs, and Zoom rooms. Tim lives in
Berkeley, California, where he helps to producing Tell It On Tuesday, a
monthly series of solo theatre and storytelling now in its 21st year.

The lineup for the 2026 summer Festival includes tellers from all
over this country, creating a multicultural event, shining light into many
new crevices of the human experience. For the full bios of our guests,
please see our website: www.Sierrastorytellingfestival.org
Kevin Kling hails from Minneapolis, Minnesota and performs
stories of small town life and coming of age with sensitivity and humor.
Kim Weitkamp grew up in Amish Country as the middle child of
exhausted parents. Labeled by teachers as high-spirited and too
talkative, Kim took those comments and channeled them into a lifetime
of high-energy, heartfelt and hilarious artistry.

Michael D. McCarty presents African and African American
stories, as well as international folktales, historical tales, stories of
science, spiritual stories and stories of the brilliant and absolutely
absurd things he has done in his life.

Yasu Ishida is not only a magician, but also beautifully imbues
the essence of traditional Japanese culture into his storytelling.
Amy Bluemel shares Chickasaw and Southeastern tribal
customs, stories, language, history, and culture.

Roopa Mohan is an eclectic storyteller with an ever-expanding
repertoire that includes folktales, myths, original tall tales, historical
portrayals & personal narratives that communicate her cultural
experience.

Saturday, June 27th starts early with an open telling session at 9
am, a chance for tellers of any level to sign up for 10 minutes on stage
to tell the story of their choice. The rest of the day is dedicated to each
Featured Teller delving deep to share an hour each of their personal
craft.

A second opportunity for less-than-professional tellers happens
inside the historical schoolhouse during Saturday’s dinner break. The
Storyslam (Story Slam?), also hosted by Tim Ereneta, will allow tellers
to put their name in a hat for the 5 minute chance to tell a story of the
theme: 15 Minutes of Fame.

After a dinner break all of the tellers will reconvene on the stage
to tell one last tale and send everyone home to bed with stars in their
eyes.

As always, there will be food and drink available for purchase
and you are more than welcome to bring your own picnic. Although
there are nearby accommodations, no camping is allowed on the
Schoolhouse grounds. We also respectfully insist that you leave your
pets at home.

The San Juan Ridge Tapestry Project will be on display for the
weekend, a spectacular community endeavor that consists of 12 hand
stitched panels illustrating the life and culture of the San Juan Ridge. A
newly released book on the creation and process of the Tapestry
Project will be available at the merchandise booth.