City of Menlo Park, CA
10/24/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/24/2025 13:02
Menlo Park hosts 10th Annual Storytelling Festival
Menlo Park hosts 10th Annual Storytelling Festival
Published on October 24, 2025
Join us for the 10th Annual Menlo Park Storytelling Festival, featuring eight free events between November 2 and December 7.
The festival began in 2016 as a single afternoon of storytelling in a basement program room at Menlo Park Library. The annual event took no break during the pandemic shutdowns of 2020, using the technological necessities of the time as an opportunity to put together international gatherings of storytellers that became favorite events that continue to this day. This year's "StoryFest" on December 5 is slated to include performers from around the U.S., Australia, Singapore, and the U.K.
Many of the performers from the inaugural Menlo Park Storytelling Festival can be seen at the Tellabration™ event November 15 at Belle Haven Library. The presenters of this group are members of the South Bay Storytellers and Listeners, who have long been stalwarts at storytelling events throughout the Bay Area.
This year's festival features more events than ever, with perennial favorites (including internationally-celebrated storytellers Diane Ferlatte and Olga Loya), as well as several first-time programs. Some of those new-to-the library performances are especially for adults, including strange-but-true tales from the odd corners of history, science, art & adventure, shared by fellows of Odd Salon, a bicoastal project inspired by the salonnieres of the Enlightenment (Nov. 12); and multiple Moth StorySlam Winner Regina Stoops sharing her one-woman show, "Coming Out-Again" (Dec. 2).
Adults and school-agers who would like to dip their toes into the art of storytelling are invited to a Storytelling 101 workshop, led by seasoned teller "Brother Ben" Tucker (Nov. 22).
About Storytelling:
Storytelling is telling stories--without using a book.
- It's an ancient art form that predates libraries, and books, and writing.
- It's not necessarily for children!
- Traditional-style storytelling creates unique images in the mind of each listener.
According to the National Storytelling Network, "storytelling is the interactive art of using words and actions to reveal the elements and images of a story while encouraging the listener's imagination. In storytelling, the listener imagines the story."
This free event series received partial funding support from the Friends of the Menlo Park Library.
Please visit event pages for program details and age recommendations.
Schedule of events
Smiley Stories: Latin American Soul
02 Nov 2025 Our 10th Annual Storytelling Festival kicks off with a fun, action-filled bilingual performance by Colombian artists Linda Gallo Bedoya and Jaime E. Riascos Villegas.
Belle Haven Library, 100 Terminal Ave., Menlo Park, CA 94025
Tagged as: , Events for families, Events for children
Storytelling with Odd Salon and Curiosity Guild
12 Nov 2025 Learn Something Weird: true stories from the odd corners of history, science, art & adventure!
Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma St., Menlo Park, CA 94025
Tagged as: , Events for adults
Tellabration! ™
15 Nov 2025 Join us at the library for a whole lot of tale-spinning!
Belle Haven Library, 100 Terminal Ave., Menlo Park, CA 94025
Tagged as: , Events for adults
Asian Storytopia!
16 Nov 2025 Enjoy fun Asian folktales for the whole family!
Belle Haven Library, 100 Terminal Ave., Menlo Park, CA 94025
Tagged as: , Events for families, Events for children
Storytelling 101
22 Nov 2025 Fire up your imagination, sharpen your public speaking skills-and have fun!
Belle Haven Library, 100 Terminal Ave., Menlo Park, CA 94025
Tagged as: , Events for teens, Events for children, Events for adults
Storyteller Regina Stoops: Coming Out-Again
02 Dec 2025 Regina's tales are infused with candid humor, bringing light to the struggles and strengths of the human condition.
Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma St., Menlo Park, CA 94025
Tagged as: , Events for adults
Menlo Park Storytelling Festival: StoryFest!
05 Dec 2025 Join us for an international confluence of storytellers, live via Zoom!
Tagged as: , Events for families, Events for teens, Events for children, Events for adults
Storyteller Diane Ferlatte: Knick Knack Paddy Whack
07 Dec 2025 The 10th Annual Menlo Park Storytelling Festival concludes, with a special appearance by this internationally-acclaimed performer!
Belle Haven Library, 100 Terminal Ave., Menlo Park, CA 94025
Tagged as: , Events for families, Events for children
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City of Menlo Park, CA published this content on October 24, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on October 24, 2025 at 19:02 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]