Ocala Storytelling Festival

Pictures can fade....memories can fade....but a story can live forever....
                                IF it's been saved!

Family Stories are the heart of storytelling. This year, the Ocala Storytelling Festival acknowledges the power of family in our lives and the importance "story" has to each family with a special oral history project:  Save Those Stories! During the festival, we will have a recording station set up near the performance tent where you can come and record a story about your family. After you've recorded the story, you'll leave with a free keepsake cd...a gift to share with your family.

Some may feel that their family has no stories...but those persons would be mistaken. Every family has stories, even if they are only spoken as gossip or anecdotes. What are some common subjects of family stories? These might include: a memorable trip, a favorite car, an unusual holiday experience, adventures with a best friend, memorable places or times, the old home place, your family's arrival to America, a great fishing story, a difficult job experience, school stories, summer fun, favorite pets, wild weather, notorious or eccentric family members.  The list is as long as human experience. Choose one from your own family's experience...one that you find funny, sad, interesting or worth remembering...and come to our festival April 18th or 19th and share it. While you're there stop and enjoy some of the family stories our featured storytellers may be sharing with the audience. However, a ticket to the festival is NOT required for you to record your story.

Our recording station will be set up during the festival on Friday, April 18 & Saturday, April19 on the festival grounds at Tuscawilla Park. It will be located in a trailer offered for the weekend by Tradewinds RV. If you are interested in coming and having a story recorded, you will need to reserve a time slot prior to the festival. You can do this online (below) or you may call to reserve the time. Each recording slot is 30 minutes long. We have 32 available slots during the two days of the festival. If there is a great deal of interest from the community and these slots fill up...we will try to make more time slots available starting with Thursday. For these additional recording times, the recording station will be in a library or other community room, TBD. 

When you arrive at the appointed time, you will first be asked for some basic biographical information (name, address, etc.) If you have come prepared to share your story then you will do so. If, on the other hand, your not sure of what you want to tell, our volunteer wll ask you a few questions designed to jog your memory. After 20 minutes you will have something recorded. We will then burn the cd and you will leave with the cd in hand. 

  Ken Burns' newest documentary reminded us that for many families, their stories include those of family members who served their country in times of war, either on the battlefield or at the homefront. In a special feature on the DVD of The War, he reiterates the importance of storytelling to preserve the human experience within the great events of history.

The Veterans History Project is collecting the stories that those who served have to tell. Their primary focus is on first-hand accounts from U.S. veterans who served during WWI, WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War and Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts. If you are a veteran who would like to participate, we would like to give you a place to come tell your story. Your cd (and any other materials of your choice) can then be mailed to the Library of Congress for inclusion in their collection. For more information about the Veterans History Project, please visit their website by clicking on this link...  Veterans History Project   

Be sure to reserve a time slot below by filling out the online form or calling the phone number provided. To help prepare for your session, you should also download and read the Field Kit provided by the Veterans History Project.  Click here for the pdf file:   Field Kit     Be aware that you have only 30 minutes for your story unless you reserve two adjacent time slots. (If you do this, be sure you need the extra time)

The following suggestions will hopefully help you prepare for your recording session

• Print and read the INTERVIEWING GUIDE This is a product of the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage contains many questions designed to jog the memory and inspire family stories.
• Be sure that you keep in mind the 30 min. limit of your time slot.
• Collect and bring to the recording session photos and other items that will stimulate and freshen your memory of events.
• Bring a family member or friend to the recording session. It may make you more comfortable and may increase the natural tone of the telling.
• Download and print the SAVE THOSE STORIES! flyer so you can tell others about the project and give them the opportunity to participate.
• Remember that there will be no time for editing of your interview before you get your free keepsake cd. Your story or interview will be "as-is" But it will be saved!

Tradewinds RV

Savage, Krim Law Firm

Contact Us

1) Choose Your Recording Session from these Time Slots (make note of it)
2) Fill Out Form Requesting that Time  CLICK HERE
3) Submit Form (click on submit button at bottom of form)

Friday, April 18

Saturday, April 19

If you would prefer to call to reserve a time slot, the phone number is:
(352) 821-0298