Press Release

Department of Parks
Cumberland Falls State Resort Park to Host Storytelling Festival April 11-13

Press Release Date:	Thursday, February 27, 2014
Contact Information:	Bret Smitley, 606-528-4121

CORBIN, Ky. – The Cumberland Falls Storytelling Festival is set for April 11-13 at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park near Corbin.

The Cumberland Falls Storytelling Festival promises to be a weekend of both traditional and unique entertainment for adults, plus a school-day session for local schoolchildren.

Four nationally known storytellers will share the stage as featured storytellers:

Sharon Kirk Clifton is a professional storyteller who is also passionate about writing, especially for children. Her debut novel, “Up A Rutted Road,” was released in May 2013. She tells old time “Jack tales” in the person of Jack’s Mama and is beloved by audiences everywhere. She also writes poetry, essays, and whatever strikes her fancy.

Buck P. Creacy is a humorist and storyteller who uses humor to make life better for his audience. It was while shining shoes at the barber shop he realized he could shine more shoes if his customers were laughing.  An “honest-to-God” humorist, Buck shares both wit and wisdom with children and the international corporate world alike.

Pam Holcomb taught high school arts and humanities, speech, oral communications, drama, and mathematics for 29 years in Harlan County, Ky. A true Appalachian storyteller, it is her desire to preserve the Appalachian culture that drew her to the performing arts and developed her love of storytelling.

Stephen Hollen has been telling stories for over 35 years.  He is an Appalachian storyteller, Mark Twain impersonator and full-time storytelling professional.  His first experiences as a storyteller were sitting on a front porch in Clay County, Ky., listing to uncles, aunts, friends and family tell folk tales, Jack tales and all sorts of bone-chilling stories. Through the years Stephen has told stories in 28 states and Canada.

Visitors can tour the falls, hike the trails and visit with vendors all weekend. Vendors will be demonstrating and selling traditional and Kentucky-made crafts all around the park’s DuPont Lodge.

Schedule of Events:

Friday: School Day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for local schools and students from third through sixth grades with storytelling, hiking and a tour of Cumberland Falls. Vendors will be demonstrating all day. An evening storytelling concert will begin at 7 p.m.  At 9:30 p.m. there will be a “Ghost Walk” with scary stories along the Falls for the brave of heart.

Saturday: Hiking the trails and tours of the Falls all day. Storytelling Matinee at 1 p.m. and a storytelling concert at 7 p.m. The evening will end with “Haint Tales and Scary Campfire Stories” around a campfire.

Sunday: The day will begin with a free, public “Sacred Stories” concert at the Falls at 10 a.m.  The day will continue with tours of the Falls, hiking and the final storytelling matinee at 1 p.m.

The cost of this event is $35 per person for the entire weekend. The Haint Walk and Camp Fire Stories are $5 extra.  School, group and family rates are available.  For more information contact Bret Smitley at the Cumberland Falls State Resort Park at 606-528-4121.

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The Kentucky State Park System is composed of 49 state parks plus an interstate park shared with Virginia. The Department of Parks, an agency of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, operates 17 resort parks with lodges -- more than any other state. For more information on Kentucky parks, visit our website at http://www.parks.ky.gov