Presented by Waseca-Le Sueur Regional Library System
June-August 2020
This summer, escape in the worlds of fairytales and folklore to connect to the stories that move us and change us and help us learn about the world at our Fairytale and Folklore Festival. These universal stories have thrilled audiences and readers for generations, since before the printing press. We’ve lined up a who’s who of fairytale and folktale authors and illustrators (Seriously, prepare to be starstruck. We are.) to share stories and explain their craft. Enjoy a shadow puppet performance and workshop, enhanced story walks, book clubs, workshops, ukelele sing-a-longs, craft projects (who doesn’t need a wish jar), and more.
Adam Gidwitz, one of the authors speaking at our virtual author events, perhaps said it best:
Being the reader of a dark fairytale is much like being the hero of one. Our lives are filled with pain, boredom, and fear. We want to venture into the dark wood, to see the oddities and the beauties it holds, and to test ourselves against them. So we pick up a book of fairytales. The real ones. The weird ones. The dark ones. We see oddities and beauties galore. We test our courage and our understanding. Finally, we put the book down and return to our lives. And hopefully, just like the hero of the fairytale, we return stronger, richer, and wiser. In difficult times—of recession and violence and political bitterness—we long for a dark forest to which we can escape; and from which we can return, better than we were before.
Fairytale and Folklore Festival Schedule:
Most of the events require advance registration. We will provide technical assistance as we are able. All times listed are Central Daylight Savings time.
Ongoing
- Sign up to receive a Fairytale and Folklore Storytellers Box. Try out 7 storyteller crafts & activities sure to light up your imagination and bring to life tales uniquely your own. The kit comes in a beautiful storytellers box, with instructions, supplies, and charming extras. The Storytellers Box encourages creativity, literacy, and learning through craft and storytelling projects. Geared for ages 8+, the kit is perfect for quality family time (without all the planning). Featuring: fairy jars and doors, dragon eggs, magical leaves, washi tape fairyland, pouches, wands, and writing prompts. Need help? Register for our online help session below. Good while supplies last.
- Talk about fairytales with other readers at our weekly Fairytale Book Club on Fridays in June and July, starting June 12th. (10 am) REGISTRATION CLOSED
Tuesday, June 9th
- Hear author Gail Carson Levine (Ella Enchanted) speak. (7 pm) REGISTRATION CLOSED
Wednesday, June 10th
- Meet up with other tweens ages 10-12 at our Tween Book Club to talk about Rump by Liesl Shurtliff. (10 am) REGISTRATION CLOSED
- Create your own Pied Piper shadow puppet show at Seth Eberle’s Shadow Puppet Workshop. (1-4 pm) REGISTRATION FILLED
Saturday, June 13th
- Hear author Soman Chainani (The School for Good and Evil series) speak. (10 am) REGISTRATION CLOSED
Monday, June 15th
- Create Fairytale and Folklore Festival Crafts. Sign up for a curbside activity pack. We’re including instructions, but if you need help, stop by this online help session. (1-3 pm) REGISTRATION CLOSED
Tuesday, June 16th
- Hear author Katherine Arden (Winternight trilogy) speak. (7 pm) REGISTRATION CLOSED
Wednesday, June 17th
- Storywalk: Twelve Dancing Princesses (3-7 pm, Northeast Park in Waseca)
Thursday, June 18th
- Storywalk: Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock (3-7 pm, Legion Park in Le Sueur)
Saturday, June 20th
- Watch The Pied Piper Shadow Puppet Show. (10 am) REGISTRATION CLOSED
Tuesday, June 23rd
- Storywalk: Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock (10 am-2 pm, Trowbridge Park in Waseca)
- Join us for the Modern Fairytale and Folklore Panel featuring Sandhya Menon (Of Curses and Kisses, When Dimple Met Rishi), Melissa de la Cruz (The Isle of the Lost, The Queen’s Assassin, Jo and Laurie), and Melissa Savage (Lemons, Nessie Quest). (7 pm) REGISTRATION CLOSED
Thursday, June 25th
- Create Fairytale and Folklore Festival Crafts. Sign up for a curbside activity pack. We’re including instructions, but if you need help, stop by this online help session. (1-3 pm) REGISTRATION CLOSED
Saturday, June 27th
- Storywalk: The Yeti and the Jolly Lama: A Tale of Friendship storywalk (12-4 pm, Northwest Park in Waseca)
Tuesday, June 30th
- Join is for the Author/Illustrator Panel . . . & Doodle Showdown featuring Dan Santat (Ninja Red Riding Hood, Drawn Together), Leigh Hodgkinson (Goldilocks and Just One Bear, Smile!), and Sam Wedelich (Chicken Little: The Real and Totally True Tale). (7 pm) REGISTRATION CLOSED
Tuesday, July 7th
- Hear author Shannon Hale (The Princess in Black Series, The Goose Girl, Diana: Princess of the Amazons) speak. (7 pm) Watch Shannon’s Presentation
Wednesday, July 8th
- Meet up with other tweens ages 10-12 at our Tween Book Club to talk about Fairy-Tale Detectives by Michael Buckley. (10 am)
Friday, July 10th
- Learn how to play a few fairytale and folklore-inspired songs on the ukulele at our Fairytale and Folklore Ukelele Sing-a-long, held weekly on Fridays between July 10th-August 28th. (1 pm) REGISTRATION CLOSED
Saturday, July 11th
- Join us for the Fairytale and Folklore Author Panel featuring Donna Jo Napoli (Zel, Bound, Treasury of Greek Mythology), Adam Gidwitz (A Tale Dark and Grimm, The Inquisitor’s Tale, The Unicorn Rescue Society series), and Brandon Mull (Fablehaven and Dragonwatch series). (10 am) REGISTRATION CLOSED
Tuesday, July 14th
- Hear author Jessica Day George (Tuesdays at the Castle, Princess of the Midnight Ball, The Rose Legacy) speak. (7 pm) REGISTRATION CLOSED
Wednesday, July 15th
- Storywalk: Beauty and the Beast (3-7 pm, Doodlebug Trail between Peterson Grain and Maple Terrace in Waseca)
Thursday, July 16th
Wednesday, July 22nd
- Hear author Renée Ahdieh (The Wrath and the Dawn, Flame in the Mist, and The Beautiful) speak. (10 am) REGISTRATION CLOSED
Saturday, July 25th
Wednesday, July 29th
Thursday, July 30th
Presented by Waseca-Le Sueur Regional Library System. The Festival is made possible in part by funding from the Minnesota Department of Education through a Library Services and Technology Act [LS-00-19-0024-19] grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.