The 52nd National Storytelling Festival is less than one month away! You still have time to get you one, two, or full weekend ticket to see over 20 professional storytellers and dozens of special events – all from the storytelling capital of the world! 

Starting on October 3 at 10 am ET, you can stream the National Storytelling Festival FOR FREE through Eventbrite. That way, you can watch all your favorite storytellers from anywhere in the world! 

ISC is honored to welcome Major General John Borling to the National Storytelling Festival as our 2025 Legacy Series speaker. A retired major general in the U.S. Air Force, John Borling’s military career spanned some 33 years. A highly decorated fighter pilot, Borling was shot down by ground fire in North Vietnam in June 1966. Seriously injured, he was captured and spent over six and a half years as a prisoner of war in Hanoi. During captivity, Borling created and shared poems with fellow prisoners using a secret tap code, which decades later were published in a collection titled ‘Taps on the Walls: Poems from the Hanoi Hilton.’

New voices, Festival highlights, and much more. 

Discover the perfect venue for your event at the International Storytelling Center. Our rental space offers a captivating blend of history and charm, providing an enchanting backdrop for unforgettable gatherings.

This story-based learning initiative pairs the Tennessee State Board of Education Academic Standards with an immersive performing arts experience to create a unique educational opportunity for teachers and students. This year, students will learn about American polymath, inventor, engineer, artist, and philosopher R. Buckminster Fuller, told by storyteller David Novak.

Kids Institute is supported by funding from the East Tennessee Foundation so that it may be offered to regional fifth graders AT NO COST to students.