“Tellabration,” an event envisioned as a means of building community through storytelling, began in 1988 at six sites in Connecticut, spread to several other states the following year, then expanded nationwide under the umbrella of the National Storytelling Network in 1990. By 1998, there were “Tellabration” events in cities on every continent, except Antarctica.
Traditionally held on the weekend before Thanksgiving, the Valley’s own “Tellabration” is set for Sunday, 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Easthampton’s indoor Mill Park at 180 Pleasant St.. “Stepping inside will give you a blast of summer light and sights as you enter a space filled with real plants, beautiful art and green ‘grass’ speckled with picnic tables and large views of the sky from the old factory windows,” enthuses organizer Gail Herman. Performances by Motoko and Eshu Bumpus (pictured), Bob Reiser, Tim Van Egmond, Herman and others will be followed by an open-mic storytelling session. The event is free and picnicking is welcome. Call Herman at 203-5247 for details.