Sandbar Storytelling Festival

Sandbar Storytelling Festival's Mission: To present storytelling performances which celebrate and preserve the power and pleasure of our varied cultural traditions and human experiences and to promote the art of storytelling for all ages.

SSF25 Dates: October 7 - 11, 2025

SSF25 Location: Saint Mary's University; Winona, Minnesota

Our lineup of internationally recognized storytellers for SSF25 include: Dovie Thomason (of Lakota, Apache, and Scot Traveller ancestry), Bil Lepp (American storyteller from WV, returning for the 3rd time), Josh Goforth (storyteller and musician from NC), Don White (bringing audiences to laughter and tears for 30 years), Rev. Robert B Jones Sr, (blues musician and storyteller from Detroit, returning by popular demand), and a special appearance by Elizabeth Ellis (master storyteller with roots in the Appalachian Mountains).

SSF25 Schedule of Events:

Tuesday, October 7: "Pizza & Bil" featuring Bil Lepp at Blue Heron Coffeehouse; 5:30pm (RSVP required)

Wednesday, October 8: "Tales & Ales" featuring Josh Goforth at Two Fathoms Brewing Company; 8pm (free event)

Thursday, October 9: storytellers in our local schools, universities, senior living centers

Thursday, October 9: "Tales & Ales" featuring Don White at No Name Bar; 9pm (free event)

Friday, October 10: storytellers in our schools and universities 

Friday, October 10: "Three Femme Fa-Tales" featuring Katie Knutson, Dovie Thomason, and Elizabeth Ellis at the Historic Masonic Theater of Winona; 1pm 

Friday, October 10: TGIF: Tales for the End of the Week (an evening storytelling 'concert' featuring all six storytellers)

Saturday, October 11: "Tales & Tunes" featuring Rev. Robert Jones at the Winona Public Library, 10am

Saturday, October 11: Bil Lepp and Josh Goforth at Saint Mary's University Page Theater, 10am

Saturday, October 11: Elizabeth Ellis, Don White, Dovie Thomason, and Rev. Robert Jones at SMU Page Theater, 1pm

Saturday, October 11: "Tales Tall and True?" (an evening storytelling 'concert' featuring all six storytellers)

Each event features different stories!

How to Attend SSF25:

Tickets and passes are available now!

Visit our website at www.sandbarstorytellingfestival.org for more information about the schedule and the 'tellers'.