A single voice that morphed into various dialects and characters, followed by bursts of genuine laughter, applause and cheers of agreement, could be heard echoing down Church Street and Water Avenue Saturday night.

The voices and music that were so great, the walls of the Carneal ArtsRevive Building could not contain, were resounding as Selma residents and people from across Alabama had a second opportunity to attend the Tale Tellin’ Festival.

This year’s two-day festival, featuring storytellers Dolores Hydock and Carmen Deedy and vocal string band and theatrical group the Dill Pickers, was considered a great success by Ann Thomas, chairman of the Tale Tellin’ Festival.

“It’s just been such a good, warm feeling,” Thomas said. “To look out and see so many people having such a great time, remembering things from their childhood, and just appreciating the things that these tellers and the Dill Pickers are sharing from their background and their talents. It’s just good.”

This was the 34th annual Tale Tellin’ and the second year for ArtsRevive to host the festival. Thomas said there were a lot more people in attendance this year, than last year’s festival –a lot of whom traveled from places outside of Selma.

“Seems like we had more people from out of town contact us about what was happening, and tonight I was amazed to hear, ‘I’m from Birmingham,’ or ‘I’m from Bessemer; I’m from Dothan,’” Thomas said.

One of the best parts about Tale Tellin’ Thomas said, is that “it’s family oriented. You won’t have to worry about what you’re going to hear, what you’re going to see. You’re just going to come for an evening of enjoyment, and you just won’t get that any place else.”

The storytellers kept the audience on the edge of their seats, Saturday night with their vivid descriptions of high school reunions and frightfully, funny childhood memories. Audience members would get ahead of themselves, trying to guess the ending, but surprise last-minute twists would have everyone laughing and clapping.

“We thank all the people that came to help and make this such a success; the tellers and the Dill Pickers and the people from all around the state that came just to make this a successful event,” Thomas said.