Paris Storytelling Inc

Every story has the power to preserve history, inspire hope and connect generations.  Your support can help ensure those stories continue to be shared throughout our community.

Each year, the Paris Storytelling Festival transforms Bourbon County into a place where history, culture and imagination come alive.  Held annually during the second weekend in May, the festival welcomes audiences of all ages with engaging performances that educate, entertain and inspire.

Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, five of our seven events are offered free to the public.  We also bring professional storytellers directly into classrooms, reaching students in Bourbon County, Paris Independent, St. Mary School, the YMCA, Nicholas County schools and six local churches.  During October, we continue our outreach by presenting a free family friendly scary story event for children, followed by an evening program for adults at the Hopewell Museum.

This year, we are especially excited to present nationally acclaimed storyteller Sheila Arnold, who has created an original program portraying the story of the Cane Ridge Revival through the eyes of an enslaved African American.  This powerful performance will be offered free of charge on Friday, May 7, 2027, and again on Sunday, May 9, 2027, providing our community with a meaningful opportunity to experience an important chapter of Kentucky's history from a perspective too often left untold.

Beyond enriching lives, the Paris Storytelling Festival also strengthens our local economy.  Each year, visitors travel from across Kentucky and throughout the United States to attend the festival, filling local restaurants, shops, hotels and businesses while discovering everything Bourbon County has to offer.

Our festival is organized entirely by volunteers meaning there are no administrative expenses.   Paris Storytelling, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit institution.  All gifts to Paris Storytelling, Inc. are tax deductible and no goods or services were received in return for any donation.