West Plains, Mo. – Everyone has a story to tell, and several area residents will share their stories about living in southern Missouri during the first ever Southern Missouri Folklore Festival at 7 p.m. March 25 at the West Plains Civic Center theater.
Sponsored by Missouri State University-West Plains’ (MSU-WP) University/Community Programs (U/CP) Department, this free event celebrates the history, culture and folklore of the southern Missouri Ozarks region, organizers said.
“As a child, I participated in a similar festival, bringing the members of our community together to pass down stories, generation to generation,” said U/CP Theater and Events Coordinator Hannah Salvesen. “It’s an experience you never forget, and I am excited to begin this tradition in southern Missouri.”
The festival will feature winning storytellers from different age categories who submitted their stories prior to the event. Story topics could range from family history, small-town heroes, local legends and more, Salvesen said.
“Not only is this a great chance for kids to grow their linguistic skills, but preparing for the festival brings families and communities together as the storytellers research and write about their own history and the history of their hometown and region,” she explained.
Officials with the Ozarks Heritage Resource Center at MSU-WP are partnering with the U/CP Department for the event and will provide emcees that evening.
For more information about the festival, contact the U/CP office at 417-255-7966, check out the event on the U/CP Department’s Facebook Page (Facebook.com/MissouriStateWPUCP), or visit WP.MissouriState.edu/UCP.
