Patchwork Tales Storytelling Festival

Celebrate with Timeless Tales, Music, & More! • April 24–29, 2023

Join Us for the 22nd Annual Patchwork Tales Storytelling Festival!

The 22nd Annual Patchwork Tales Storytelling Festival will once again bring stories to life! Experience the magic of storytelling through one-of-a-kind performances from national and local performers. Enjoy an exciting series of pre-festival events all week long, then join us the day of the festival as our community comes together to celebrate a time-honored tradition! See below for more information, performers, and a full schedule of pre-festival and festival events.

*Bring a blanket or chair to the Anne Springs Close Greenway on April 29, and plan for a full day of stories, music, and more! Admission and parking are free! Stop by the "Fun Zone" for a variety of activities for children and teens, and grab a bite to eat from one of our participating food trucks. Please note that alcoholic beverages are prohibited.

Schedule • Performers • Sponsors • Additional Information

Pre-Festival Event Schedule

Wednesday, March 1 – Monday, March 20, 2023

York County Library Youth Visual Art Contest

In celebration of Patchwork Tales, York County Library is sponsoring a Youth Visual Art Contest! 2-D, 3-D, digital art, and photography entries will be accepted. To enter, drop off your art between March 1 through March 20 at any YCL branch or submit it digitally at yclibrary.org/ask-a-ya-librarian. Please include your name, age, title of your work, phone number, and email address. Winners will be announced March 31, and an art reception will be held April 29 at the festival.

Prizes: First prize winners will receive a $50 gift card, and second prize winners will receive a gift basket! Prizes will be awarded for each age group.
Age Groups: A) 7–9 years; B) 10–13 years; C) 14–15 years; D) 16–18 years
Eligibility and Rules: All students living or attending school in York County, SC, are invited to participate. Participant’s age on the date of submission must be given to determine the age category. Entries must be family-friendly. York County Library reserves the right to use, assign, modify, edit, adapt, dispose of, or electronically alter entries.

Monday, April 17 – Monday, May 1, 2023

Donna Washington: Patchwork Tales Storytelling Video

Donna Washington kicks off Patchwork Tales with an exclusive performance, available only on the YCL YouTube Channel.

Monday, April 24 – Thursday, April 27, 2023

Lona Bartlett: Here, There, and Everywhere

Stories are told all over the world. Come listen and participate as storyteller and puppeteer Lona Bartlett shares folk and fairy tales from ancient lands. There will be oral tradition, puppets, and a whole lot of fun!

Monday, April 24, 2023: 5:00–5:45 p.m., Clover Public Library. Recommended for all ages.
Tuesday, April 25, 2023, 10:30–11:15 a.m., Lake Wylie Public Library. Recommended for children ages 5 and under.
Thursday, April 27, 4:00–4:45 p.m., York Public Library. Recommended for all ages.

Friday, April 28, 2023

Donna Washington: School Performances

Donna Washington presents a wide range of fairytales and folktales for ages K–5. This event is by invitation only.

TBA, Ebenezer Avenue Elementary School

Tim Lowry: Sweet Tea Commentary: Serious Subjects, Sugared Up

Tim Lowry, The Sweet Tea Commentator," always brings a southerner's perspective to stories of his own adventures, American history, literary classics, or Bible stories. His family-friendly shows offer the thrills, chills, and excitement of a trip to Disney World (without the heat and humidity of central Florida); the educational value of the Grand Canyon (for a fraction of the cost); and the spiritual uplifting of an old-fashioned tent revival (without 47 verses of "Just As I Am"). Recommended for adults. Register online or call 803-981-5888, starting April 14. Limit 50.

4:00–5:15 p.m., Main Library (Rock Hill).

Festival Events

Saturday, April 29, 2023

Carlo Dawson: Welcome and Introductions

Award-winning author, "edutainer," and festival emcee Carlo Dawson will welcome guests, introduce performers, and share a few stories of her own as she guides the audience through the day's events.

12:00–8:00 p.m., Comporium Amphitheater

Porkchop Productions: RAPunzel

Porkchop Productions' fractured twist on this classic tale brings the story to life in a magically musical way! A cast of unforgettable characters leads the audience (as well as Rapunzel) on a journey through different musical genres and teaches important lessons about being true to yourself, following your dreams, and making your own kind of music!

12:00–12:40 p.m., Comporium Amphitheater

Fun Zone: Display Table by Schiele Museum

Schiele Museum presents a fascinating "mini-exhibit" of amazing artifacts!
12:00–2:00 p.m., Field near Comporium Amphitheater

Fish the Magish: Magical Friendship Show

Fish the Magish will bedazzle children and adults of all ages families with an exciting, mind-bending magic show!

1:00–1:30 p.m., Comporium Amphitheater

Lona Bartlett: Coming Together

Being apart has been hard, but finally we can come together and be a part. Let's join as one and listen to Lona Bartlett as she shares interactive stories of hope, generosity, and unity for children.

1:45–2:15 p.m., Comporium Amphitheater

Fun Zone: Crafts for Teens and Children by the YCL Bookmobile and Outreach Department

The staff of the YCL Bookmobile and Outreach Department entertains kids and teens with fun, easy crafts.

2:15–3:45 p.m., Field near Comporium Amphitheater

Abigail McCluney: Poetry Reading

Rock Hill Youth Poet Laureate Abigail McCluney shares a variety of poetry.

2:20–2:35 p.m., Comporium Amphitheater

Donna Washington: The Dark Heart

Donna Washington presents tales especially for teens about relationships gone sideways! Featuring mostly dead lovers, not-quite wives, and women who transform into beasts, these are not your typical schmalzy love stories!

2:50–3:35 p.m., Faires-Coltharp Cabin at Anne Springs Close Greenway

Flat Tire Trio: Music Concert

Flat Tire Trio keeps the energy going, playing a variety of genres on their unique instruments, such as bluegrass, blues, rock, and reggae. These guys will have you on your feet!

3:50–5:05 p.m., Comporium Amphitheater

Fun Zone: Face-Painting by Sadie Bridges

Makeup and special effect artist Sadie Bridges delights children with special, custom face-paint designs.

4:00–5:30 p.m., Field near Comporium Amphitheater

Tim Lowry: Old, New, Borrowed, Blue

You never know what Tim Lowry will be talking about, but if you're a betting man, put your money on something from American history, something he’s never told anybody before, something he stole from Mark Twain, and a touch of scandal. This is adult entertainment you can take the kids to!

5:20–6:05 p.m., Faires-Coltharp Cabin at Anne Springs Close Greenway

Fun Zone: Amazing Balloon Creations by Donelle Tison

Professional balloon twister Donelle Tison entertains children with her unique and zany balloon creations.

5:30–7:00 p.m., Field near Comporium Amphitheater

Donna Washington: In Her Eyes (ASL Sign-Interpreted Performance)

Donna Washington presents a set of twisted fairytales told through the eyes of some of the most notorious women in the folktale world. Perspective is everything, whether you’ve magically transformed someone for their own good, or started having … unusual urges for forbidden cuts of meat.

6:15–7:00 p.m., Comporium Amphitheater

Tim Lowry: Didn’t See That Coming (ASL Sign-Interpreted Performance)

These chilling ghost stories from Tim Lowry tell us why what we imagine, what we wish, or what we dream may be more than we bargained for — and why what we crave, what we seek, or what we desire may not look at all like what we envisioned. Not recommended for children under 10.

7:05–8:00 p.m., Comporium Amphitheater

Performers

Abigaiil McCluney 2023 Patchwork Tales.jpg

Abigail McCluney

Abigail McCluney, Youth Poet Laureate for Rock Hill, SC, has a major passion for the arts and adores writing and all things creative. She is an "A" honor roll student at Rock Hill High School and was featured in The Hilltop Tier: An Anthology of Youth and Young Adult Authors (Volume 1).

Carlo Dawson

Carlo Dawson is an award-winning author, poet, master storyteller, historic dramatic reenactor, arts integration specialist, motivational speaker, community organizer, Power of PROGENY Foundation founder and executive director, and teaching artist of nearly 20 years. In short, she calls herself an "edutainer." She is the author of three children’s’ books and two poetry books, and has been featured on South Carolina's ETV and the British Broadcasting Corporation's World News "Juneteenth" feature.

Donna Washington

Donna Washington is an internationally known, multiple-award-winning storyteller, spoken word recording artist, and author. A highly-animated performer, she has been entertaining, educating, and inspiring audiences with her vocal pyrotechnics, elastic face, and deep characterizations that bring folklore, literary tales, and personal narratives to life for over 30 years. These days, you can find her traveling the country at festivals, conferences, schools, and libraries, telling stories and giving workshops for anyone willing to listen.

Fish the Magish

Mike Fisher, a.k.a. “Fish the Magish,” lives in Asheboro, NC. Specializing in program for kids, Fish the Magish visits churches, libraries, elementary schools, and preschools with his hilarious, audience-participatory magic shows.

Flat Tire Trio

The Flat Tire Trio is a fun and unique bluegrass band. Utilizing its repertoire of recognizable songs, some original tunes, and improvisation skills, the band makes sure that no two of its shows are exactly the same. Playing acoustic guitar, mandolin, and electric and stand up bass, the members of the Flat Tire Trio will provide you with “Sharp Tunes in Seconds Flat.”

Lona Bartlett

Lona Bartlett is a professional storyteller, puppeteer, and educator who has delighted audiences throughout the U.S. and internationally for over 30 years. Lona grew up in the Catskill mountains of upstate New York, part of the Appalachian mountain range, and blends together her love of story, puppets, and small-town life to create a unique experience on stage. No matter the genre, whether it be folktales, fairytales, puppets, or personal stories, Lona loves bringing excitement and insight to a wide variety of audiences.

Porkchop Productions

Founded in 1991, Porkchop Productions specializes in audience participation and has performed extensively for schools, libraries, youth groups, and special events throughout the southeast. The group has also designed and implemented drama programs and arts camps for thousands of young people and is dedicated to expanding artistic horizons and to promoting a life-long appreciation of the performing arts. Their interactive approach to performances and residencies makes for a one-of-a-kind theatre adventure!

Tim Lowry

Tim Lowry's love for show business began when he was six years old, watching a thrilling performance of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Approaching his 10,000th performance, Tim, also known as the “Sweet Tea Commentator,” began touring the National Storytelling Festival circuit. He has shared stories on stages since 2012, from Connecticut to California, and has performed numerous times at Patchwork Tales.