TALES TO TELL: Pike Piddlers Storytelling Festival marks a decade of tellin’ tales

Published 3:00 am Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Storytelling legend Donald Davis, above, returns as a headliner for the 10th annual Pike Piddlers Storytelling Festival later this month. Kim Weitkamp, inset below, also will be a featured storyteller this year, bringing her unique mix of stortelling, song and music to the two-day festival. The event, named one of the must-sees in Alabama, features four sessions of storytelling and song.

Storytelling legend Donald Davis, above, returns as a headliner for the 10th annual Pike Piddlers Storytelling Festival later this month. Kim Weitkamp, inset below, also will be a featured storyteller this year, bringing her unique mix of stortelling, song and music to the two-day festival. The event, named one of the must-sees in Alabama, features four sessions of storytelling and song.

The Pike Piddlers Storytelling Festival will celebrate 10 years the last weekend in January with a stellar lineup of storytellers including the Dean of Storytelling Donald Davis.

“Donald Davis has been with us every year since we started and he has been paramount to our success,” said Mernette Bray, a member of the sponsoring Brundidge Historical Society’s storytelling committee. “Kevin Kling from Minnesota and Josh Goforth from North Carolina are both back by popular demand. Kevin has been a teller at the Pike Piddlers Storytelling Festival twice. Last year was Josh’s first year here and he really connected with the audience. Kim Weitkamp is from the Mountain State and we handpicked her. We couldn’t have a better lineup for our tenth festival. We thought we couldn’t equal last year’s festival but, with this lineup, we can.

“The New York Times said Donald Davis’ stories leave listeners limp with laughter while at the same time they struggle with a lump in the throat. Anyone who has heard Donald Davis knows that’s true.”

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Bray said Kevin Kling is funny; he is inspiring; and he can pull the heartstrings.

“Kevin Kling travels the world over telling tales,” Bray said. “We have waited three years to get him back and we are excited that he will be here as we celebrate 10 years.”

Josh Goforth had the Pike Piddlers audience stomping and clapping with his fiddling and banjo playing. Then, he stepped away from the microphone and sang an old church song a cappella to a spellbound audience.

“Josh Gofoth was amazing,” Bray said. “Kim Weitkamp tells stories; she sings; she strums; she entertains and she is going to be a great fit for our audiences.”

Bray said, in celebration of the Pike Piddlers Storytelling Festival milestone year, several special additions to the festival will be announced once they are finalized.

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The Pike Piddlers Storytelling Festival will kick off with supper and stories at the sold out We Piddle Around Theater in Brundidge on Friday, January 29. The storytelling festival will continue with three storytelling concerts at the Trojan Center Theater on the campus of Troy University on Saturday, January 30.

“There’s no better place for storytelling than the Trojan Center Theater. There, you’ll hear all four tellers at each concert and each concert will be different,” Bray said.

Concert times are 10 a.m. ($10), 2 p.m. ($15) and 6:30 p.m. ($10). All-day tickets are $10. Pre-show music will be provided 30 minutes prior to each storytelling concert.

Tickets for the Pike Piddlers Storytelling Festival concerts at the Trojan Center Theater are available by calling 334-685-5524 or 334-670-6302. Tickets are available at The Messenger on South Brundidge Street in Troy.