Plan Your Trip

Plan Your Trip

We’ve gathered info that should be helpful as you plan your trip to the International Storytelling Center.  Here’s how the Festival works: Large, circus-type tents are scattered throughout charming, downtown Jonesborough. Each tent has plenty of seating. Regular programming is then scheduled in each tent throughout the day; our attendees simply choose which tent they want to attend at which time. The tents are all located within easy walking distance of each other.  You will be given a program which will include the schedule when you pick up your passes at Festival Headquarters, located in the Jonesborough Visitor’s Center.  Regular Festival programming is scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday. The complete schedule can be viewed online a few days prior to the Festival.

About Jonesborough

Known affectionately as the Storytelling Capital of the World, Jonesborough launched the world’s storytelling renaissance. Tucked away in the Appalachian Mountains, Tennessee’s oldest town offers historic charm, modern services, and first-rate hospitality.

Group Tickets

The National Storytelling Festival offers a registration discount to organized adult groups. Please note there are no additional group discounts to the senior and child rates as they are already discounted. Group discounts are not applicable to Ghost Stories or Midnight Cabaret tickets.

To qualify for a group discount, the following criteria must be met:

  • A group must have at least 10 members.
  • The group must designate one person to pick up the tickets for the entire group. Tickets will not be held at the registration desk for distribution to individual members of the group.
  • A group registration must be pre-paid, using only one check or credit card at the time the registration form is submitted.
  • All members of a group must purchase a ticket for the same day or days. For example, all tickets must be for the full weekend, for Saturday only, etc.
  • Postmark deadline for group registrations is September 16, 2023. Group discounts are not allowed for on-site registrations.
  • Group tickets are not available online. They can be purchased by calling ISC at 800-952-8392, ext. 283 or mailing the group registration form, faxing it to 423-913-8219, or e-mailing it to ISC.

Once a group is registered, adjustments in group numbers may be made by mailing a written request to the International Storytelling Center. It must be postmarked no later than September 16, 2023. The group rate in effect at the time of the adjustment will apply.

All tickets purchased to the National Storytelling Festival are final.  If you are unable to use your tickets, these 2 options are available:
*Exchange your ticket for a ticket to next year’s Festival. The exchange request must be made in writing prior to the ticket date.  The exchange request is limited to 1 year.
*Donate your ticket purchase back to the Organization as a tax-deductible contribution. This option is only available during the year in which you purchased the ticket

Where to Stay

Jonesborough, TN (most of these fill up a year in advance)

Country Inn & Suites by Carlson
423-753-3100

Eureka Hotel
423-913-6100

Franklin House B & B
423-913-6100

Hawley House B & B
423-753-8869

Jonesborough Bed & Breakfast
305-519-1117

Linnaea Gardens Guest House
423-753-3286

Johnson City, TN (These hotels are about 8 to 10 miles from Jonesborough)

Days Inn and Suites

423-282-2161 

Carnegie Hotel

423-979-6400

Quality Inn Downtown

423-928-9600

Quality Inn Boones Creek

423-218-1939

Comfort Suites

423-610-0010

Courtyard by Marriott – Johnson City

423-262-0275

Doubletree “Doubletree Hotel”

423-929-2000

Fairfield Inn & Suites

423-900-8640

Hampton Inn

423-929-8000

Holiday Inn

423-282-4611

Holiday Inn Express

423-328-0500

Econo Lodge Inn & Suites

423-282-3335

Baymont Inn & Suites

423-930-8570

Red Roof Inn

423-282-3040

Sleep Inn & Suites

423-915-0081

WoodSpring Suites Johnson City

423-283-0365

Staybridge Suites

423-262-8886

Super 8 by Wyndham

423-930-8254 

Greeneville

36 Motel

423-234-4422

Andrew Johnson Inn

423-638-8124 

Days Inn

423-639-2156

Econo Lodge

423-639-4185

General Morgan Inn

423-787-1000

Greene Villa Motel

423-639-1112

Hampton Inn

423-638-3735

Knights Inn

423-638-1331 

 Nolichucky Bluffs Bed & Breakfast Cabins

423-329-9633 

Quality Inn

423-638-7511 

Relax Inn

423-638-1331

Serenity Cove B&B and Cabins

423-798-0537

Ewin

Mountain Inn & Suites – 30 minutes away from Jonesborough 423-743-4100

Super 8 by Wyndham Erwin – 25 minutes away from Jonesborough 423-735-3002

Mars Hill 

Trailhead Lodge – 912-665-4820

Campgrounds

Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park 

423-257-4600

River View Campground 

423-753-2094

Riverpark campground 

423-753-5359

Bristol/Kingsport KOA 

423-323-7790

Rocky Top Kingsport

423-323-2535

Lazy Llama Campground 

423-823-2100

Baileyton RV Park

423-234-4992

Kinser Park 

423-639-5912

Pebble Mountain

423-257-2120

Cherokee Lake 

423-272-3333

North Indian Creek 

423-735-8608

Rock Creek Recreation Site 

423-638-4109

Woodsmoke Campground 

423-743-2116

Iron Mountain Inn 

423-768-2446

Cochran’s Lakeview 

423-878-8054

Lake View RV Park

423-538-5600

Black Bear Resort

423-725-5988

Cherokee Adventures 

423-743-7733

Double D Roost

423-735-7275

Nolichuckey Gorge

423-743-8876

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