Experience an ancient tradition that lives on in modern times.

We are a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to providing meaningful opportunities for an underserved audience to engage with the voices of Appalachia through hearing stories and attending workshops that will enable them to develop a cultural intelligence through the arts of listening and speaking.

Mark your calendar!

The 12th annual Georgia Mountain Storytelling Festival is coming!

April 10-11, 2026

in-person at The Ridges Resort in Hiawassee, GA and online

Our featured tellers for the 2026 festival will be (left to right in the photos): Antonio Rocha, Connie Regan-Blake, Peter Cook, Lyn Ford, and Andy Offutt Irwin. Click on their names to learn more about them.

Please note: Gene Tagaban was originally scheduled to appear at the 2026 festival as a featured teller. Due to travel difficulties, he will be unable to join us. In his place, we are pleased to welcome Andy Offutt Irwin. We hope to host Gene in a future year.

We will also showcase the following outstanding voices from across the Southeast who will be telling stories and teaching workshops at the festival.

Tickets: We keep our ticket prices low so that everyone who wants to participate in the festival can. In-person general admission is at most $25 for one day or $40 for two days, and an online viewing ticket is at most $15 for a household or other group. Discounted tickets for senior citizens, military personnel, and college students are available, and students ages 18 and under, YHC students, teachers bringing classes, individuals with disabilities, and individuals with low income can get free tickets. Advance ticket sales for in-person attendees will close on 4/3/26 so we can prepare for the festival, but you’ll still be able to get tickets at the festival itself (come to the registration table in the Big Springs room at The Ridges). Online viewing ticket sales will be open through 5/10/26.

Guide for Teachers: Click here for information on the storytellers, sample assignments, and other ideas for weaving storytelling into your curriculum. (Note: An updated version of this guide was posted on 3/13/26.)

Lodging: You can stay on site for the festival! The Ridges Resort on Lake Chatuge is offering festival visitors a discount ($159/night plus taxes & fees) for reserving rooms early. Call 706-896-2262, ext. #1, by 3/10/2026 and ask for the GMSF 2026 rate.

Schedule: Click here for a draft of the festival schedule, including descriptions of the workshops and other special sessions.

Festival Map: Click here for a map of the festival venue.

Volunteering: Did you know that the festival is entirely volunteer-run? We’d love to have you join the crew! Many jobs are available. Volunteers typically work a 2 to 4-hour shift and in return receive a snazzy t-shirt, a free two-day festival ticket, and the undying gratitude of the organizers. To learn more and to sign up, click here.

Sponsorship: Each year, the festival is made possible by many generous individuals, businesses, and organizations. To learn more about how you can get involved as a sponsor and to see the benefits associated with sponsorship, click here.

Raffle: At the 2026 festival, we’ll be raffling a gorgeous stained-glass pattern quilt, a weekend package for our 2027 festival (2 tickets + 2 nights at The Ridges), two weekend passes to the National Storytelling Festival, and more. Proceeds will support our community outreach programs such as free tickets for students, teachers, individuals with disabilities, and individuals with low income. Raffle tickets can be purchased at the festival or online: CLICK HERE. You DO NOT have to be present to win.

2026 Festival Shirt Design: The theme for this year’s festival is Story: The Universal Language. Our 2026 t-shirt features the word story translated into dozens of languages, showing what all of us have in common. Shirts will be available at the festival in purple (short sleeve) and dark green (long sleeve). Here’s the artwork to give you an idea of what they will look like. If we have any left after the festival, we’ll add them to the online store page on our website.

Check back here and follow our Facebook page for more information on the 2026 festival, and email us at info@gamountainstoryfest.org if you have questions in the meantime.