FOREST STORYTELLING FESTIVAL
THE STORY PEOPLE OF CLALLAM COUNTY IN COLLABORATION WITH FIELD ARTS & EVENTS HALL
27TH ANNUAL FOREST STORYTELLING FESTIVAL
NOVEMBER 5 - 7, 2026
Welcome to the Annual Forest Storytelling Festival in Port Angeles, WA! World class storytellers will make you laugh uproariously and will tug at your heartstrings. Everyone — from preteens, grandparents and everybody in between — will find stories of love, comedy and inspiration.
Our storytellers will invite you into the lives of people, fictional and real. These are characters who are, on the inside, just like you. They’re also people from many cultures, coming alive in the voices of tellers from all over the globe.
Enjoy inspiring workshops, entertaining live performances with expert storytellers, networking opportunities, and open “story slam” opportunities for you to share your tales. A full weekend of stories inside the beautiful Field Arts & Events Hall in Port Angeles, Washington.
The Story People of Clallam County is a guild that promotes the art of storytelling. We all have stories to share… come share them with us!
"BRIDGING CULTURES THROUGH STORYTELLING"
FOREST STORYTELLING FESTIVAL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Purchase segment passes to attend individual workshops or performances, or get your full festival pass for access to all events!
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5
7pm • Ghost Stories Performance
The Story People return with a fright, kicking off the three day Forest Storytelling Festival with an evening of haunting tales from Ingrid Nixon, Megan Wells, Andy Offut Irwin, and Collin Urwin. Enjoy comic delights mixed with spine-chilling tales supernatural spooks.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6
9 – 10:15am • Morning Workshops
• “Pin the Tail on the Narrative, Sort of Lawn Darts meets Eudora Welty,” with Andy Offutt Irwin
• “Story Dynamics: Connecting with Your Audience,” with Megan Wells
10:30 – 11:45am • Pacific Northwest Guild Tellers Performance
11:45 – 1:45pm • Break for Lunch
12:15 – 1:30pm • Story Slam “Light” Open Mic
1:45 – 2:35pm • Colin Irwin in Solo Performance
2:45 – 3:35pm • Megan Wells in Solo Performance
3:45 – 4:35pm • Andy Offutt Irwin in Solo Performance, Theater
5 – 7pm • No Host Dinner with Featured Tellers, Sunset Lounge
7pm • Forest Storytelling Festival Friday Evening Performance
Join the Story People of Clallam County in Partnership with field hall as they welcome back to the stage three professional tellers: Megan Wells, Andy Offutt Irwin, and Colin Irwin!
Andy Offutt Irwin is a lifelong resident of Georgia. He brings with him his southern charm and humor. You may expect to hear from his beloved character Aunt Marguerite. He is a really funny and talented storyteller.
Megan Wells is known by her family as a jukebox of stories. Her career is anchored in theater as an actress. A perfect background to bring story characters to life.
Colin Urwin is a charming Irishman that has many tales from his homeland. He is rich in stories on or near the sea.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7
Join the Story People of Clallam County for a free open house with friends from storytelling guilds across the region including The Fireside Story League (Tacoma), South Sound Guild (Olympia), Portland Storytelling Guild, Seattle Storytelling Guild, Victoria Storytelling Guild, and of course – the Story People of Clallam County! Connect with other storytellers and learn more about membership during this free open house event.
10:30 – 11:30a: Morning Workshops
• “Storytellers Talk Too Much” with Colin Irwin
• “Vividness, Verve and Vigor: Playing with Words” with Ingrid Nixon
11:45 – 1:45p: Lunch service available
12:15 – 1:30p: Open Mic, Sunset Lounge
Tellers can sign up to tell any kind of story, 8-minute time limit.
Join us for the final performance of the Forest Storytelling Festival featuring stories from Colin Irwin, Megan Wells and Andy Offutt Irwin.
FEATURED STORYTELLERS
INGRID NIXON
Ingrid Nixon returns as the emcee for the 27th Annual Forest Storytelling Festival and will tell one of her famous ghost stories during this spooky show! Ingrid is a retired National Park Service ranger and an award-winning, world-traveling storyteller, who loves to whisk away listeners on journeys of the imagination. Exploration nail-biters, lies, ghost, traditional, personal stories—she tells them all. From Antarctica to the North Pole, Ingrid’s 40+ years of work in expedition tourism has taken her on a magic carpet ride around the planet. She tells at festivals across the country, including the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, TN. Ingrid produces and hosts Story Borealis, the program dedicated to the art of oral storytelling, on NPR’s KBBI Public Radio in Homer, Alaska. Though she lives in Alaska, Ingrid is a long-time Story People member and emcee of our Almost-Annual Liars Contest. She holds a M.A. in Storytelling from East Tennessee State University. More at IngridNixon.com
ANDY OFFUTT IRWIN
Andy Offutt Irwin shares a Silly Putty® voice, heart-filled humor, and world-class whistling. Andy has been described as Eudora Welty meets the Marx Brothers with a touch of the Southern balladeer. One of the most sought-after storytellers in the country, he’s best known for the unforgettable adventures of his 85-year-old Aunt Marguerite, a newly minted physician who embraces growth and love in the ever-changing New South.
Andy is a favorite at the National Storytelling Festival and has appeared twenty times as Teller in Residence at the International Storytelling Center. Among other gigs, Andy has been a performer and guest teaching artist at LaGuardia High School of Art, Music, and Performing Arts in New York (The “FAME!” School); he has been a Keynote Speaker/ Performer at the Library of Congress – Viburnum Foundation Conference on Family Literacy. Andy has held a few almost-real-jobs that include: Artist-In-Residence in Theatre at Emory University’s Oxford College from 1991 to 2012. (He continues to serve Oxford annually as Artist-in-Just-Passing-Through). A very long time ago, Andy spent five years as a performer, writer, and director with SAK Theatre at Walt Disney World.
Andy has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the National Storytelling Network’s Oracle Circle of Excellence, and a Special Congressional Recognition – for outstanding and invaluable service to the community – from the late Representative John Lewis. See more at andyirwin.com
MEGAN WELLS
Megan Wells is the Artistic Director of the Ray Bradbury Storytelling Festival, Megan was granted permission from Ray himself to tell his works as oral tales. Megan fell in love with the theater arts at the ripe age of seven. She’s been devoted ever since; gathering a lifetime of plays, stories, teaching, workshops, dance and improv. She is a six-time national award winner, as well as a sought-after coach in both the Theater and Storytelling worlds. Megan is a fulltime Professor of Theater where she runs the theater program at Concordia University Chicago. She has been touring as a storyteller and historical portrayalist for over thirty-five years. Megan loves to encourage others to “jump in” and experience the purposeful joy of the expressive arts. For 20 years, Megan has been carrying audiences all over the country through the vivid heart pounding Bram Stoker novel, Dracula. She will delight with fright regardless of what she decides to tell. www.meganwells.com
COLIN URWIN
Colin Urwin is an Irish oral storyteller, folk singer, songwriter, ceilidh caller, workshop facilitator, recording artist, former falconer, and author of several folktale collections, including one short-listed for the prestigious Katherine Briggs Award. Along with other notable storytelling residencies, he is Seanchaí to the Chief of the Antrim McDonnells. As well as telling hauntingly beautiful traditional stories in his rich and authentic voice, he weaves folk songs and original rhyming monologues into his vibrant performances. With over forty years performance experience, he delights audiences in museums, schools, libraries, and numerous other community settings. He also performs on stages all over the world. Learn more at colinurwin.com
VISITING PORT ANGELES
Port Angeles, Washington is the largest city on the North Olympic Peninsula, nestled between the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Olympic National Park. This charming seaside city combines the stunning natural beauty of rural America with a vibrant arts, dining, and shopping center.
From Seattle-Tacoma International Airport: Leave SEA and take WA-518 West to WA-509 North, then merge onto I-5 North toward Seattle. Follow I-5 North through Seattle and take Exit 104 near Olympia for US-101 North toward the Olympic Peninsula.
Continue on US-101 North through Shelton, Hoodsport, and along the Hood Canal. Stay on US-101 as it turns west toward Port Angeles.
Alternative (often scenic, sometimes faster depending on traffic): Drive to Edmonds and take the Edmonds–Kingston ferry, then continue via WA-104 and US-101 west to Port Angeles. Check ferry schedules before choosing this route, as wait times can vary.
From Victoria: Take the Black Ball Ferry Line Coho Ferry from the inner harbor. The ferry crossing takes about 1.5 hours and runs directly between Victoria and Port Angeles.
Private and shared airport shuttles are available. Visit gorocketman.com (Rocket Transportation) or dungeness-line.com (Dungeness Line) for route information and to schedule pickup.
Field Arts & Events Hall is the premier performing arts and event venue on the Olympic Peninsula and is located in the downtown Port Angeles Waterfront District on the intersection of Oak and Front Street.
Port Angeles offers a variety of boutique lodging options and hotel chains at a variety of price points. In November, hotel rates are generally more affordable. Field Hall recommends the following options, all located just a short walk from the venue:
Red Lion Port Angeles Harbor
Port Angeles Inn
Quality Inn Port Angeles
Uptown Inn
Field Hall also recommends Olympic Lodge by Ayres, which offers a complimentary shuttle for guests.
Many of AirBNB, VRBO and B&Bs operate in Port Angeles on a year-round basis. For specific recommendations, please reach out to clallamstorypeople@gmail.com
Whether you are visiting Port Angeles for the first time, returning as a guest, or living here full-time, this beautiful community has a lot to offer!
Wander through our quaint downtown to shop at locally owned boutiques like MOSS, Kindred Collective, Moxie Boutique, Alley Cat Boutique, and HeartKept Home. Get your stationery fix at Olympic Stationers, or pick up a book at one of our locally owned bookstores: Port Book and News or Odyssey Bookshop.
For dining, enjoy coffee, breakfast and lunch options on site at Field Hall in the Waterfront Coffee Bar or sample a seasonal dinner and drinks menu in the Sunset Lounge. You’ll find a variety of breakfast, lunch and dinner spots in downtown Port Angeles, with highlights including Kokopelli Grill, Pink Pony Café, Downriggers on the Water, Oak Street Bistro, Next Door Gastropub, BarHop, Spruce, and many more.
Culturally, Port Angeles rivals nearby cities in the variety and frequency of events. This weekend Field Hall will present two incredible shows to round out your experience: Ghost Stories (co-presented with The Story People and included in your festival pass) on Thursday, November 5th and a special performance from the award-winning Benjamin Hunter Band on November 7th. You can also explore nearby galleries including the Laura Cooksey Gallery, Harbor Art Gallery, One of a Kind Art Gallery, and just a short drive away the Port Angeles Fine Arts Gallery and Webster Woods Sculpture Park.
There are no shortage of outdoor adventures when you’re this close to Olympic National Park! We recommend taking a short drive out to Ediz Hook to enjoy the best views of the city, or up to Hurricane Ridge for stunning mountain vistas. The waterfront Olympic Discovery Trail offers an easy, accessible walking path with beautiful scenery.