You Are Invited to Celebrate Family Storytelling at StoryJam!

On Sunday, March 24, families are invited to StoryJam, a fun day of storytelling events taking place on the first floor of the Toronto Reference Library from 11 am to 4 pm. This free celebration of storytelling is part of the 40th annual 2019 Toronto Storytelling Festival and will feature folktales from around the world, national and international guests, and lots of storytelling activities!

Image courtesy Joe Tamko, Toronto Storytelling Festival.

Programs and storytellers at the StoryJam event will be:

Atrium Events

Teddy Bear Picnic
11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Children are invited to bring their teddy bears for a rollicking time with storytellers Sally Jaeger, Carol Ashton and Mariella Bertelli. Hosted by Brad Woods.

Just Enuff
12:00 – 1:00 pm

Storytellers who also work with the Paren't-Child Mother Goose Program tell stories they love. With Sarah Abusarar, Ruth Danziger, Lynda Howes, Leeya Solomon and Megan Williams.

Wee Folk Tales from Scotland and Ireland with Donald Smith.
1:00 – 1:30 pm

Scottish Traveller Tales from around the campfire with Jess Smith.
1:30 – 2:00 pm

Traditional Tales from India with Peter Chand.
2:00 – 2:30 pm

Highland Myths and Legends from Scotland with Seoras Macpherson.
2:30 – 3:00 pm

Favourite Tales from the Storytent with Donna Dudinsky.
3:00 – 3:30 pm

Stories from the Yukon with Sharon Shorty.
3:30 – 4:00 pm

TD Gallery Events

Old English Stories with Hugh Cotton; tales of enormous boars, walking trees, wood spirits and idle good-for-nothings.
12:30 – 1:15 pm

Stories from the Yukon with Sharon Shorty.
1:30 – 2:00 pm

First Nations Stories with Ron Evans.
2:15 – 2:45 pm

French Canadian Folktales with Marylyn Peringer.
3:00 – 3:30 pm

Main Floor and Browsery Events

Ongoing throughout the day. Includes information tables and vendors.

Facepainting: The amazing Ilyan Balicki returns to the festival with his face-paint artistry.

Creative Workshop: Kensington Market’s legendary Red Pepper Spectacle Arts invites you to make story-related figures, objects, buttons, and banners.

African Riddle Contest: Come and swap your favourite riddles with Moyo Mutamba, a storyteller and mbira-player from Zimbabwe, and his riddle-master son Kuda.

Image courtesy of Toronto Storytelling Festival.

The Toronto Storytelling Festival is one of the largest and oldest urban storytelling celebrations in the world and is a highlight for Canadian and international tellers. Some of the visiting storytellers are also appearing at select Toronto Public Library (TPL) branches as part of the Stories Told Eye to Eye, Mind to Mind, Heart to Heart series. These free programs, currently underway, feature Seoras Macpherson and Donald Smith, as well as:

Tuesday, March 19