In an age of AI-generated everything, live storytelling might seem quaint—until one is in the room.
That’s when the magic happens. Eyeball to eyeball, story to story, something stirs that no screen can simulate. For 34 years, the Bay Area Storytelling Festival has been proof that in-person, heart-to-heart storytelling isn’t just alive—it’s essential.
Returning to Sonoma Academy in Santa Rosa on Friday and Saturday, June 20-21, this festival once again brings together a constellation of tellers, listeners and cultural torchbearers to do what humans have always done best: share the stories that make us who we are.
“The Bay Area Storytelling Festival has endured because of a shared belief in the power of storytelling and a passion to spread the magic of live storytelling throughout the Bay Area and beyond,” says Linda Yemoto, the festival’s director of logistics. “Producing a festival is an almost overwhelming amount of work, especially for an all-volunteer crew. But through dedication, adaptability and perseverance … the story continues.”
The 2025 lineup features a mix of heavy-hitters and fan favorites, including America’s Got Talent winner Brandon Leake, whose emotionally raw spoken-word poetry has captivated national audiences. Joining him are cultural luminaries like Dovie Thomason, Willy Claflin and Charlotte Blake-Alston, all of whom bring wildly different but deeply resonant styles to the stage.
“This is all about connection,” says Sara Armstrong, chair of the board for the Storytelling Association of California. “It’s being able to look into each other’s eyes, to share stories heart to heart with people in front of you, that allows the magic of connection to continue in very personal and real ways.”
Theoretically, one could livestream a story performance, but that would be like watching a campfire on Zoom, technically possible but not advisable. In person, with a room full of fellow humans leaning forward at just the right moment, the effect is something close to alchemy.
“While we don’t all share the same experiences,” says Regina Stoops, co-producer of Six Feet Apart Productions, “we do all share a similar array of emotions, fears and hopes. That connection—the one that recognizes the ways that we’re the same—promotes understanding despite our differences. This understanding is the binding foundation of universal connections.”
Call it group therapy. Call it cultural preservation. Call it art. Whatever one calls it, storytelling festivals like this one—and more locally, Petaluma’s West Side Stories or The Moth pop-ups—are doing more than just entertaining. They’re keeping memories alive.
“Storytelling gives individuals and communities a way to express their unique cultural experiences and assert their identities,” says Yemoto. “This is particularly important for groups like Indigenous communities, diaspora populations and minorities, who can share stories of resilience and survival. Storytelling events in Sonoma County and beyond play a vital role in preserving cultural memory by creating spaces for shared experiences, fostering connections between generations, and empowering individuals and communities to tell their stories.”
So yes, everyone has a story. “Indeed, multiple stories,” says Armstrong. “Our lives are made up of stories that unfold each day… From personal experiences others have, I can recognize myself (I am not alone) and learn things to be and do—or not do—to stay safe and healthy.”
For two days in June, storytelling becomes a full-contact sport—without the bruises. Add a scenic Sonoma County backdrop, some Wine Country hospitality (shout-out to La Quinta Inn, the official lodging partner) and a crowd that knows the power of a well-timed pause, and one’s got more than a festival. They’ve got a movement that’s lasted more than three decades—and has never been more timely.
The 34th Bay Area Storytelling Festival takes place Friday and Saturday, June 20-21, at Sonoma Academy, 2500 Farmers Ln., Santa Rosa. For tickets, lineup and details, visit sixfeetapartproductions.com/basf.php.
As treasurer of the Storytelling Association of Alta, California, and having attended the festival since becoming so in 2006, it’s a fantastic event. If you’ve not seen professional storytelling before, you’re missing out on some very interesting performances.