The 15th Annual Granite State Story Swap produced by the New Hampshire Storytelling Alliance (NHSA) will be held at Canterbury Shaker Village, 288 Shaker Road, Canterbury, NH on Saturday May 4 from 8 to 5 PM. Storytellers and story listeners are invited to attend the event, which is devoted to promoting the oral tradition of storytelling in the community.

The day’s activities begin at 8 AM with registration and a light breakfast provided. At 9 AM featured speaker Sebastian Lockwood, Greenfield, NH, will present his keynote address, ”Weaving History and Myth into Modern Tales.”

Following Lockwood’s address, attendees will have the opportunity to trade stories within a small group. Telling a story is not required, but many a listener has been inspired to share one after listening to others in a story swap circle.

Before lunch, everyone will gather together for a concert with Jackson Gillman, Onset, MA; Ruth Niven, Franklin, NH and Vicky Dworkin, Sandwich, NH.

A new feature this year will add to the ambiance of the lunch hour. Bruce Marcus of Malden, MA will meet the challenge of telling an eighty-second story with a few announcements by Joyce Sabato. Both indoor and outdoor dining will be available if weather permits.

Lunch will be followed by an afternoon concert featuring stories by Jo Radner, Lovell, ME, Pam Matson, Dover, NH, and Lauretta Phillips, Andover, NH. More story swaps will be held after lunch followed by Lockwood’s closing concert at 3:45.

The cost for the entire day is $25 ($20 for NHSA members) which includes breakfast & lunch, admission to the keynote address, two sessions of story swap circles, three storytelling concerts, and no parking fee. Anyone wishing to attend only the 3:45 PM concert by Sebastian Lockwood may do so by purchasing a $10 ticket at the door (no member discount.)

To pre register and for more information go to www.nhstorytelling.org, call Lauretta Phillips at 603-735-5965 or email her at event.manager@nullnhstorytelling.org. Registration may also be done at the door.

Canterbury Shaker Village is located 20 minutes north of Concord, New Hampshire, an hour west of Portsmouth, New Hampshire and approximately an hour and a half north of Boston, Massachusetts. Directions are at www.shakers.org/