Story Arts of Minnesota

StoryFest! 
Bloomington (MN) Center for the Arts
 Saturday, March 28, 2026

Storytelling changes lives and uplifts communities
The stories that move us to laughter, tears, or action take many forms, from personal narratives to the classic tales of Cinderella and Anansi. StoryFest is an annual day-long public celebration of the power of story produced by Story Arts of Minnesota. During StoryFest, both professional and novice tellers gather with audiences for a full day of performances, workshops, and open mics. Attendees of all ages share the wonder and insights sparked by oral storytelling, an art as old as humanity and as fresh as today.

Your generosity will help us:

• Showcase storytelling to amplify diverse voices and reach new audiences.
• Assure StoryFest is accessible through outreach to varied communities, including students; accommodations such as ASL interpreters; and enabling most sessions to be free or low-cost.
• Expand partnerships with nonprofit groups and businesses that value story-based strategies to communicate and educate.

ABOUT STORY ARTS OF MINNESOTA  (SAM)

StoryFest is our primary public event, but it's not all we do. Many of our members perform in storytelling venues both in-person and online, including curated shows, open mics, and community events. Other members are story-loving audience members who join us to support and carry on the oral tradition. 

SAM co-sponsors a storytelling open mic in Minneapolis; produces a monthly storytelling program for children and families in Shakopee; organizes the Twin Cities' Tellabration™ for the annual nationwide celebration of the story arts; and other special programs, like a recent evening of ghost stories for adults. SAM also maintains a website and social media to spotlight storytellers, storytelling shows, and classes statewide. 

For the first time this winter, SAM will offer four weekends of storytelling at the Art Shanties project on frozen Lake Harriet. And looking ahead, SAM has applied to host the National Storytelling Network's conference in Minnesota in 2027!

Please visit our website – www.storyartsmn.org – and follow us on Facebook and Instagram to find out more about all our activities.

CHOSE YOUR DONATION LEVEL

Click DONATE to view suggested amounts or specify a donation (minimum $5). Every donation of any size makes a difference in our ability to present successful programs. Thank you!