Festival History

The Kansas Storytelling Festival started in 1994 as the vision of local citizens in conjunction with the Downs Arts Council. The Downs Arts Council's mission is "to enhance the quality of life in our rural area," and the Kansas Storytelling Festival was a great step in meeting this mission."

Since the early days, the festival has continued to grow every year, and the Kansas Storytelling Festival committee has been able to sign more well-known names each year. The Kansas Storytelling Festival is made possible each year by a dedicated group of volunteers who coordinate the event, the entertainment, and the business of the Kansas Storytelling Festival. The committee functions under the guidance of the Downs Arts Council Board.

Former Kansas Governor Bill Graves officially recognized Downs in 1998 as "The Storytelling Capital of Kansas" and has proclaimed the last week of April as "The Kansas Storytelling Festival."