The 35th annual Florida Storytelling Festival, to be held from January 24 to 27 in Mount Dora, will celebrate the performance of this entertaining art form with an expanded program of storytelling concerts and workshops, as well as inaugurate a new pre-festival intensive program.

The festival offers free front porch storytelling at the Lakeside Inn, plus ticketed events in the big tent. There will also be a special Story Cruise on Lake Dora. Attendees—whether storyteller, fan or a newbie—will be able to share a story by the pool, take part in the many story swaps or the Saturday night Slam competition, or attend other programs.

Featured performers include Sheila Arnold Jones, an acclaimed inspirational speaker, writer, storyteller and singer; Ingrid Nixon, whose folk tales are flavored with wry humor and contemporary flair; Sam Payne, whose soaring tenor voice has sung and told stories nationwide; Margaret Kaler’s portrayals of historic women in the struggle for women’s rights; and Shawn Welcome, a performance poet, author and host of Diverse Word, Orlando’s longest-running open mic series.

For more information and to make reservations, call 800-327-1796 or visit FlStory.com.