When the weather turns cold and dreary and the wind whips around every corner, then it’s storytelling time.

And, there’s no better story place than the Pike Piddlers Storytelling Festival held annually the last weekend in January at the We Piddle Around Theater in Brundidge and the Trojan Center Theater in Troy.

This year’s Pike Piddlers Storytelling Festival on Jan. 25 and 26 will feature tellers who are all back by popular demand – Donald Davis, Sheila Kay Adams, Andy Offutt Irwin and Michael Reno Harrell.

Local radio personality David “Doc” Kirby said he is extremely excited to have four of his “favorite friends” back at the annual storytelling festival.

“You can’t hear these storytellers and not think of them as friends because they share their lives with us,” Kirby said. “I’ve been a fan of Donald Davis for 18 years. He pulls you into his stories and you get to know the people that he grew up with. He is one of the funniest people I have ever known. He’s great on CDs but he’s even better in person and that’s no small thing.”

And Andy Offutt Irwin?

“That boy’s just not right,” Kirby said, laughing. “He’s one funny guy.”

Irwin is bringing along a bushel of stories about his wacky Aunt Marguerite Van Camp. His Aunt Marguerite stories are Irwin’s trademark tales.

Kirby said Sheila Kay Adams is a masterful storyteller and a seventh generation bearer of her family’s 200-year old ballad singing tradition.

“The old ballads were brought over from Ireland and Scotland and are the music that is part of our Southern heritage,” he said and added that nobody sings them with so much affection as Adams.

“Michael Reno Harrell can spin a yarn and then turn it into a song,” Kirby said. “I’ve only heard him once but I’m anxious to hear him again.”

Harrell’s stories have been likened to an old pocketknife, well warn and familiar feeling, but razor sharp and with a point.

Kirby said it’s amazing that a small county in South Alabama came bring world-class storytellers to the stage and for such a reasonable price.

“You can’t find entertainment better than this anywhere and nowhere for $10,” he said. “This Pike Piddlers Storytelling Festival is a ‘can’t miss’ event.”

In addition to the four nationally acclaimed storytellers, the Festival offers pre-show music by traditional pickers and a folk art exhibit including the work of Alabama artists Mose Tolliver and Charlie Lucas.

The Pike Piddlers Storyteller Festival opens on Friday night, Jan. 25 with “Supper, Stories and Such” at the We Piddle Around Theater in Brundidge. Tickets are $25 and include the pre-show music, a full country supper served family style and storytelling.

On Saturday, the Festival moves to the Trojan Center Theater on the campus of Troy University with three storytelling concerts, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. ($10 each) and at 6:30 p.m. ($15). All day tickets are $30.

Each storytelling concert will feature all four tellers and different stories will be told at each concert.

Pre-show music will be by the Lighthouse String Ensemble, The Benton Brothers and Company and the WPA Scratch Band. The pre-show music will begin 30 minutes prior to the storytelling concerts.

For tickets call, 334-735-3125 or visit the ticket outlet at studio 116 in downtown Brundidge or The Messenger in Troy. Phone orders may also be made by calling 334-735-3675 nights and weekends.