Last spring, Park Rapids Lakes Area Arts Council (PRLAAC) issued a call to Minnesota storytellers to submit a 10-minute recorded story for competition. Storytellers responded, judges selected the top four and those finalists will travel to Park Rapids to determine who wears the Great American Storyteller crown. And who walks away with $1,000.

Finalists are Paulette Friday of Alexandria, Tina Rohde of Eden Prairie, Sue Searing of Minneapolis and Rose van der Berg of Bloomington. The four will tell their winning stories and the audience will vote for the top two. Those two will be given a prompt and tell an impromptu 10-minute story. The audience votes again, and the winner gets the crown. And the prize money.

Master Storyteller Richard Rousseau will once again entertain while ballots are being counted. This year’s emcee will be Mike Carroll, a long-time resident of Park Rapids.  Arrive early and enjoy listening to Lori Goulet Reich singing and playing folk, country, blues and traditional music.

Tickets will be available at the door: $10 per person; kids 18 and under free. 

For more information, visit www.thegreatamericanstory.org.