Happy Halloween!

Guild members gifted stories to the community in four scary story events this month!

Here we are at the end of the 50th annual Festival of Ghost Stories  gathered on the stage for a final "Boo!" 

And here's our treat for you: four scary stories in four free Zines!  You can click on the title or use the QR code to go to the file with the Zine itself.   Each cover is original artwork by Connor Stelle, each story retold by a long time Guild teller.

 King of the Cats

 

 Tailypo

 

Wicked Jack

 

Mary Culhane   

50th Annual Festival of Ghost Stories

 

 The Bloomington Storytellers Guild presents

The 50 annual Festival of Ghost Stories

Friday October 24

7 - 8:30 pm

Bryan Park

1001 S Henderson St. Bloomington IN 47401

Join the Bloomington Storytellers Guild in Bryan Park for a special anniversary performance featuring favorite ghost stories from the past five decades. Special guest Stephanie Holman, former Monroe County Public Library librarian, returns to the stage for this spooky night under the stars. 

Bring a blanket, a chair, and someone to hold your hand; these stories are best for adults, teens, and older kids. Some content may not be suitable for young children. 

Festival of Ghost Stories is sponsored by Bloomington Parks and Recreation and the Monroe County Public Library. For weather-related updates, call the Community Events Hotline at 812-349-3754. Rain location is the Monroe County Public Library Auditorium, 303 E. Kirkwood Ave.

FREE

City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation

https://bloomington.in.gov/recreation/programs/12700  

Monroe County Public Library

https://calendar.mcpl.info/event/14557402  

50th Anniversary Posters now available

The commemorative posters for the 50th Anniversary of the Festival of Ghost Stories have arrived!

You can pick up one at the October Guild meeting this Sunday, October 5th, ( 12:15, MCPL, Room 2C - see previous post for details)

Our poster was designed by Connor Stelle.  You'll be seeing more of his amazing artwork at the Festival of Ghost Stories (7:00 pm, Bryan Park, October 24)  

 

October Guild Meeting

It’s the season for spooky stories!

We know you have a favorite - maybe the tale that terrified you at camp?  Or the one that kept you from sleeping at a slumber party? A true tale that you heard at a family gathering?  Your favorite one from “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark”? The tricky one that made you gasp – and laugh?

Come share your story at the October meeting of the Bloomington Storytellers Guild:

Sunday, October 5

Monroe County Public Library, (on Kirkwood) Room 2C

12:15 to 1:45 pm

 

As you get ready to share a story remember:

            Keep it short (7-10 min)

            Don’t read it – tell it

            Practice telling it out loud before you come

            Let us know the source of your story

 

Love to listen to scary stories?  Stay tuned, there will be many opportunities this October!

Mark your calendar for the 50^th annual festival of Ghost Stories in Bryan Park on October 24^th!

Summer Memories, 2

Camp is over, but the memories stay.  

We hope the camp kids remember the fun of hearing stories 

as much as we remember the fun of telling them.

We told stories at "Wondercamp" where every week has a different science theme.

In"Kitchen Chemistry" Vickie and Ginny shared stories of kitchen mishaps.

While "Down on the Farm" Dakota and Donya got into the characters.

Connie told at the Hilltop Garden center

and Patty explained why the possum's tail is bare in a UES classroom.

Amy got a lot of participation as the kids helped with the house that Jack built.

Ginny introduced fennel with a Greek myth (and a knife)

While Connie made them laugh with the clever cook.

 Another summer camp experience over,  summer memories to treasure.

Summer Memories, 1

In everything we do this year, we are celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Bloomington Storytellers Guild.

Ginny described the beginning of the Guild in 1975, and shared the newspaper announcement of the first open meeting --which was published in both the morning and the evening paper.

The old woman in Dana's story first got what she wanted --

and then what she deserved!

Summer jobs? Clayton has had them!

Hard work pays off in Patty's hilarious version of Obedient Jack.

Dakota shared an original story that we could imagine as an animated cartoon.

People! You are in for a treat when Faridah tells a tale.

No end to Christina's tale of "Never Ending Jack"

Laura organized Summer Tales (Yay, Laura!) and told a tandem tale with Ginny of "No News"

And we all had a fun time!

Thanks to the library for sponsoring us, to CATS for recording the event, to all the tellers - and especially thanks to the folks in the audience who laughed and gasped and clapped at just the right time.  

We are so grateful to still be sharing stories with you after 50 years!

If you missed the performance, remember that you will be able to watch it on CATS, the library's Community Access Television Services.   Check their listings at: https://catstv.net/index.php

 

Summer Tales 2025

 It's time for Summer Tales!

The Monroe County Public library has invited the Bloomington Storytellers Guild to share our summer tales for families, tweens, teens, and adults on July 18th -- and we're inviting people who are interested in joining us to  try out a story at Auditions on June 23rd!

 Auditions are JUNE 23, in the Monroe County Public Library(Indiana) auditorium, from 6:30 to 8 pm.

Interested?

Contact Laura Clavio

 lzclavio@gmail.com  

if you have a story you would like to try out.