Library's storytelling and performance festival in its 15th year

Cumberland County Public Library is excited to announce the 2024 Storytelling Festival, entitled “Jungle Jamboree.” This will be the 15th year the Library has held the free, month-long festival that celebrates and encourages storytelling through different perspectives while embracing diverse voices and cultures.

The storytelling festival promotes literacy, encourages inclusion and sparks curiosity and creativity. This year’s theme, “Jungle Jamboree,” focuses on animals in storytelling and includes stories that are about animals or told from the perspective of animals. Using animals as part of stories can make the lessons they teach more fun and relatable for children. These animal stories are filled with wisdom and morals that can be easily understood and enjoyed.

This year’s festival will feature three different performers. Join us as stories come to life at one of the following performances:

Grey Seal Puppets presents, "Tangle of Tales," three folktales from around the world come to life with puppets. Ages 3 – 11. Performance dates:

• Tuesday, Mar. 5 at 11 a.m. at Spring Lake Community Library, 101 Laketree Blvd., Spring Lake
• Tuesday, Mar. 5 at 4 p.m. at Cliffdale Regional Library, 6882 Cliffdale Road, Fayetteville
• Wednesday, Mar. 6 at 10 a.m. at East Regional Library, 4809 Clinton Road, Fayetteville
• Wednesday, Mar. 6 at 4 p.m. at Hope Mills Community Library, 3411 Golfview Road., Hope Mills

Donna Washington, a renowned storyteller, will share poignant and funny fables and spine-tingling tales for children. For ages 4 – 11. Performance dates:

• Monday, Mar. 11 at 3:30 p.m. at Bordeaux Community Library, 3711 Village Drive, Fayetteville
• Tuesday, Mar. 12 at 3:30 p.m. at North Regional Library, 855 McArthur Road, Fayetteville

Hobey Ford’s production of "Animala" explores the world of animals through movement, music, and puppetry. For ages 3 – 11. Performance dates:

• Tuesday, Mar. 26 at 10 a.m. at Hope Mills Community Library, 3411 Golfview Road, Hope Mills
• Tuesday, Mar. 26 at 4 p.m. at Headquarters Library, 300 Maiden Lane, Fayetteville
• Wednesday, Mar. 27 at 11 a.m. at West Regional Library, 7469 Century Circle, Fayetteville
• Wednesday, Mar. 27 at 4 p.m. at North Regional Library, 855 McArthur Road, Fayetteville

This project is supported by a grant from the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County, the North Carolina Arts Council and, in part, by contributions from the City of Fayetteville, Cumberland County and other community partners.

Visit the library’s Calendar of Events for more information at bit.ly/3QB4M7X or call us at 910-483-7727.