StoryFest 2026
Daytime Performances
11:15 am - 12:10 pm - Black Box Theater
Sue Searing
Sue Searing relishes sharing traditional folk and fairy tales, stories drawn from history and family lore, and original tales inspired by her own experiences. She’s been invited to perform at theaters, fairgrounds, churches, breweries, libraries, coffeehouses, conferences, and online. She’s won story slams in the Twin Cities and took first place in the Great American Story Contest in Park Rapids, MN. “Prizes are nice,” Sue admits, but “the unique connection with live audiences of all ages” is what fires her passion for storytelling. Please visit suesearing.com to learn more about Sue and hear more of her stories.
Janay Green
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Larry Johnson
Larry grew up in the country, a mile from the farm where the Mall of America is now. His baseball team won the Bloomington Championship at Legion Field, the same year a chicken from nearby Harris Feeds on Lyndale negotiated THE GREAT PUMPKIN PEACE TREATY. This was broadcast by gophers over Radio H-O-S-E, thru the plumbing system of neighborhood homes. These are true stories, with only the facts exaggerated.
Christopher Nelson
I have been attending open mics, classes at American School of Storytelling for awhile now. I’m grateful to get the chance at StoryFest!
1:15 p.m. - 2:10 p.m. - Black Box Theater
Julie Gustafson
Julie is a Storyteller from Bloomington, Minnesota who believes the most powerful stories are the honest ones. Drawing directly from her own life, she shares personal experiences with candor, humor, and vulnerability in an effort to unite others through shared emotion and understanding. Her work is rooted in the idea that when one person tells the truth about their life, it gives others permission to see themselves in it — and feel a little less alone.
Kate Button
Kate Button is a seasoned performer in improv, storytelling, and standup. She has led an adventurous life, having visited every continent but Antarctica. She has adopted 5 children from Liberia, China and the USA. She will be sharing a story of one of those adventures.
Leif Wallin
Leif lives up north on a lake near Bemidji, MN. He has adopted the "Fish Fear Me" phrase. Sadly, Fish Avoid Me is more appropriate. As he waits for fish to bite, he hangs out with Paul Bunyan (everything in Bemidji is tied to Paul) and sharpens his story telling skills.
Margaret Meyer
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Katie Knutson
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2:30-3:30 - Council Chambers
Vickijoan Keck
Vickijoan Keck (AKA “The Rainbow Lady”) is a storyteller, actress and poet who especially enjoys telling folktales and whimsical rhymes. She enjoys telling personal stories as well as putting a new twist on an old tale. She has been involved in storytelling since the mid 1990’s, telling her stories at places like the MIA and Flint Hills children’s festival, libraries, coffee shops, as well as nature centers. She loves rainbows, and found a folktale that she reworked into verse form.
Elaine Wynne
Elaine is a storyteller/therapist who started Veteran Resilience Project. She grew up on a farm north of Bemidji, close to Red Lake. Farm organizer parents, country barn dances and the nearby pow wows were part of that childhood. Elaine lived a short time in Alaska twice, as a child, and again as a young adult. This story shows her father standing up to racism in housing rental in Alaska.
Dorothy Cleveland
Dorothy has been telling publicly for 31 years in a variety of venues. She tells folktales and personal stories as well as fictional stories. "Meeting the Red Baron" is a personal tale of flying in an old bi-plane from the Red Baron pizza company and the enchanting pilot.
J. Emily Peabody
J Emily Peabody is a retired HCL Associate Librarian. Her Family storytimes were enthusiastically greeted by members of the Franklin Library Community, and during the pandemic she and Teddy were widely & joyously recieved. Emily has performed with several community and professional theatres through the years and she has her own one woman show about our first elected US Congresswoman, Jeannette Rankin.