By Sarah Robinson 

The Selma Times-Journal 

 

ArtsRevive had a full house Friday as guests attended the opening night of the Alabama Tale-Tellin’ Festival.

Storytellers Kim Weitkamp, Lyn Ford, Michael Reno Harrell and the musical group The Dill Pickers all contributed their talents to the evening. Each performance grabbed the crowd’s attention and left them smiling.

“Through story, we find out that we are all much more alike than we are different,” said Martha Lockett, the executive director of ArtsRevive. “That is the value of it. It’s just a really magical evening and worth the wait.”

Lockett said the storytelling event has grown since it started 38 years ago and continues to attract people from different areas of  the nation.

“This is wonderful,” she said. “We are thrilled with the numbers.”

Not only did attendees witness professional storytellers, but some of them  deliver stories of their own at the Swappin’ Ground event held before the Tale-Tellin’.

The host allowed guests to take center stage, an experience Lockett said she’s glad people could have this weekend.

“Everybody in there has a story, and that’s how you learn who you are and who other people are,” she said.

It’s Lockett’s hope that Tale-Tellin’ will be perceived as more than a fun night of entertainment.

“We’re trying to take it more from just something you come to one night and go home to something that has a broader impact in the community,” Lockett said.

Sponsored by ArtsRevive, the festival will continue Saturday with the Swappin’ Ground at 4:30 p.m. followed by Tale Tellin’ at 6:30 p.m.

Admission is $15 for adults, and $10 for those ages 12 and younger.

Advance tickets are available at the Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce, Selma-Dallas County Public Library and Allez-oup on Broad Street.

For more information, call Ann Thomas at (334) 878-2787 or email info@ArtsRevive.com or visit www.ArtsRevive.com.