Kansas Storytelling Festival
DOWNS - The 32nd Annual Kansas Storytelling Festival is coming quickly this spring. The Festival will be held on Friday and Saturday, April 24 and 25, 2026 in Downs, Kansas.
Known as the “Storytelling Capital of Kansas”, the small northcentral town of Downs welcomes you to a weekend of stories and unforgettable hospitality.
This celebration of the art of storytelling promises to be an event filled with laughter, wonder, and the timeless magic of storytelling. Nationally known festival favorites are invited, along with new voices for stories from all genres for all ages. Headlining storytellers are Kevin Kling, Geraldine Buckley, Rev. Robert B. Jones Sr., Ingrid Nixon, and Greg Victors (Wichita War Dancer).
Kevin Kling
Kevin Kling hails from Minneapolis, MN and has performed his stories in libraries, school gymnasiums, The Kennedy Center, Off-Broadway, regional theaters and storytelling festivals around the US. Kevin has been a frequent featured teller at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborogh, TN. Kevin’s international tours have included Australia, Europe and Thailand.
Geraldine Buckley
Geraldine Buckley is a British-born, internationally known, award-winning storyteller, speaker, and educator. She is known for her natural warmth and delightful sense of humor, as well as her wise, witty personal stories that make people laugh and think. She teaches workshops and tells stories in conferences, colleges, corporations, prisons, schools, house concerts, and festivals throughout America, and as far away as New Zealand. She has been featured several times at the National Storytelling Festival.
Rev. Robert B. Jones, Sr.
Rev. Robert B. Jones, Sr. is a renaissance man. He has been a professional musician for more than forty years and the National Blues Foundation recognized his work as a leading blues educator in 2007. He has been a Pastor for more than 20 years, and a nationally recognized storyteller for more than fifteen years. At the heart of his message is the belief that our cultural diversity tells a story that should celebrate, not just tolerate.
Ingrid Nixon
Ingrid Nixon is a professional storyteller and retired National Park Service ranger, who has worked in expedition tourism for over three decades, sharing stories of exploration, folklore, culture, and natural history while leading groups to all seven continents. Ingrid performs historical stories, myths, tall tales, folktales and more at events and festivals throughout the United States, including the National Storytelling Festival.
Greg Victors
Greg Victors, is the World Champion Wichita War Dancer and is of the Tohono O'Odham and Ponca Nations. He has been a Native performer since childhood. He has a passion for not only performing but educating people about his culture and its beautiful history. He feels a deep responsibility to share and preserve the native culture through dancing, singing and storytelling. Stories, folklore and traditional teachings all play a significant role in learning about the first peoples of the Americas.
The professional storytellers will perform several times throughout the weekend. Listeners will also enjoy the Tall Tales Contest (Friday night), the local “Legends” Storytellers including Native American stories and the Master Storytellers (previous winners of 3 tall tales contests). Bring your own stories to tell during the Swappin’ Grounds session on Saturday afternoon.
More information can be found https://www.kansasstorytellingfestival.com/ or Kansas Storytelling on Facebook.
There's something for everyone to enjoy at the 2026 Kansas Storytelling Festival on April 24 – 25, 2026.