The third annual Whitewater Storytelling Festival will be held Saturday, Sept. 23, according to information released by the Whitewater Area Chamber of Commerce.

As stated in the release, the festival is “dedicated to celebrating the art of storytelling in all its forms.”

Stories range in variety from children’s and campfire tales, to offering opportunities to experience “more traditional storytelling,” along with “new narratives and voices,” the release noted. 

This year’s event, slated from between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m., in Whitewater’s Cravath Lakefront Park, 341 S. Fremont St., will feature a variety of vending booths, food trucks, and live entertainment, including music and storytellers, the release stated.

The event is designed to produce stories and entertainment that is family-friendly and captivating to family members of all ages, the release noted. 

Among vendor booths, event-goers will find “unique products,” many of which carry a story, the release continued.

A variety of food trucks will be on hand to offer for purchase lunch and dinner opportunities.

In the evening, event-participants will find campfires around which storytellers will offer various tales, the release read.

In addition, event-goers will be treated to performances offered by Renaissance musician “Nazario Chickpeazio” and traditional Irish music performed by “Cead Mile Failte.”

Children’s activities

According to the chamber’s website, children’s storytellers, and their scheduled performance times, include: Coral Conant Gilles, 10 a.m.; Andreas Transo, 11 a.m.; and Corey King, 12:30 p.m.

An event schedule of children’s activities includes: building a pinecone birdfeeder with Kim Adams, 10:30 a.m., and an “activity time” with “Monty the Mammoth,” sponsored by the Ice Age Trail Alliance, at 11:30 a.m. 

A performance by Nazario Chickpeazio will begin at noon.

According to the performer’s website, Nazario Chickpeazio has developed a steadily growing reputation for a wide variety of original music, described on the site as “sometimes bright and cheerful,” and “sometimes “melodic and entrancing.”

The artist plays several instruments, including the oud, latva, flute, Baroque guitar, sitar and Afghan rabab.

The Milwaukee-based musician has been playing in the United States for 30 years, performing in such venues as live world music festivals, Renaissance fairs, city markets, theaters, and college campuses, among others. 

In a telephone interview, the artist said that while in Whitewater, he will be accompanied by his wife, Leah Jurgens, who will perform some puppeteering while he plays.

Family-oriented events

According to the chamber’s website, a list and schedule of activities for the whole family includes: a performance by Nazario Chickpeazio, which will include several genres of music such as Bluegrass and Tibetan ceremonial, along with tunes played on a Spanish guitar, 1 p.m.; storytelling by Coral Conant Gilles, 2 p.m.; storytelling by Jitesh Jaggi, 2:45 p.m.; storytelling by Elizabeth Matson, 3:30 p.m.; storytelling by Sarah Beth Nelson, 4:15 p.m., and music by Cead Mile Failte, a group, according to interim Whitewater Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Katy Wimer, which plays traditional Irish tunes.” According to the chamber’s website, the group performs in pubs, wineries, and farmers markets throughout Jefferson County. The storytelling festival performance is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.

Campfire stories

According to the chamber’s website, “Campfire Stories with S’mores” will begin at 6 p.m., and include several storytellers. They are Doug Way, Aria Wagner and Chad Mitchell Johnstone.

A full list of the event’s storytellers and some biographical information about each can be found here: https://www.whitewaterchamber.com/whitewater-storytelling-festival/.

Truck vendors, lunch and dinner

As noted on the chamber’s website, truck vendors offering lunch will be available between 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. They include: Aunt Mable’s Hot Sandwiches and Sweet Treats, Pupusas by La Preferida, Sarah’s Sweet Treats, and Lady Vs Sno-Cones and Snacks.

Vendors providing opportunities for dinner, between 5 and 8 p.m., include: Pupusas By La Preferida and Sarah’s Sweet Treats.

Vendors providing ‘storytelling through art and food’

As presented on the chamber’s website, the following vendors will be on hand to offer art and food between 2 and 5 p.m. They are: BaristaCats Cafe, Kristie’s Creative Kitchen, Stephani’s Spot, Studio 84, Sunshine Cookies, Jackie’s Small Batch Bakery, ReVamp Nutrition, Kits Knits, Owl Be There, and Heather’s Tailoring and Custom Sewing.

Sponsors of this year’s event include: Hamilton House, First Citizens State Bank, Nelson’s Bus Service, Inc., FCCU, and Generac, among others.

The event is free and open to the public.

A story about last year’s event as published on WhitewaterWise’s sister site, Fort Atkinson Online, is here: https://fortatkinsononline.com/elementor-80395/.

A story about the inaugural event, held in 2021, as published on WhitewaterWise’s sister site, Fort Atkinson Online, is here: https://fortatkinsononline.com/whitewater-storytelling-festival-enjoyed-success-organizers-say/.