Tellabration

Tellabration

Third weekend in November

A nationwide night of storytelling, Tellabration was started in 1988 by storyteller J. G. ("Paw-Paw") Pinkerton. The event began with storytelling going on in six communities in Connecticut. The next year, Texas and Missouri also had Tellabrations, and by 1991, storytelling on this night was happening in 72 communities in 27 states, as well as in locations in Bermuda and Canada. Eventually, the length of Tellabrations extended to a weekend. In 1999 people held Tellabrations in 42 states and 14 countries. Proceeds of the event go toward developing the archives of Storytelling Foundation International (formerly the National Association for the Preservation and Perpetuation of Storytelling) in Jonesborough, Tenn.
Pinkerton originated the event as a way to encourage storytelling for adults, feeling that storytelling keeps culture alive. He grew up in a small Texas town listening to family stories—especially those told by his grandfather who had herded cattle in the early days of Texas. Pinkerton became a mining executive and, after retiring in 1988, devoted his time to promoting storytelling from his Connecticut home.
See also Storytelling Festival, National and Yukon International Storytelling Festival

CONTACTS:
National Storytelling Network
132 Boone St., Ste. 5
Jonesborough, TN 37659
800-525-4514 or 423-913-8201; fax: 423-753-9331
www.storynet.org
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Celebration days:
2011: Nov 19; Nov 20
2012: Nov 17; Nov 18
2013: Nov 16; Nov 17
2014: Nov 15; Nov 16
2015: Nov 21; Nov 22