Tall tales and legends: Top Toronto Storytellers unite at the Story Tent every Saturday

Folktales, fairytales, legends, true tales, tall tales – storytellers have captured the attention of audiences for millennia. Spurred by their passion from this ancient art, local arts organization, Storytelling Toronto, has its own lengthy history.

For the past 40 years, Storytelling Toronto has continued to celebrate, explore and teach the art and tradition of oral storytelling throughout the city. Today, the small team works out of their office at Artscape Wychwood Barns, putting on workshops and events throughout the city, including the Toronto Storytelling Festival that brings together local, national and international celebrated storytellers in a celebration of the spoken word.

Storytelling Toronto (then The Storytellers’ School of Toronto) featured in The Toronto Sun, March, 1979. (Source: Storytelling Toronto)

Every Saturday, between 11 am and 1 pm, you can catch a featured storyteller in the Story Tent at The Stop’s Farmer’s Market at Artscape Wychwood Barns, the weekly destination for upwards of 2,000 people. This summer line-up includes many local storytellers to be announced shortly like Norman Perrin on August 17 and Pat Bisset on August 24.

On August 31, Lynn Torrie takes the top spot with her wonder tales, wisdom tales, and tales based on history.

Lynn has been telling stories since she was a teen, discovering that the children she babysat would eagerly go to bed when a story was offered. This same magic inspired her as a camp counsellor and then as a parent.

And if you feel compelled yourself, you can share your own 10-minute stories to an enthusiastic audience. Just sign up at the Story Tent.