Storytelling at Vance Birthplace

This October, we're bringing you another evening of storytelling with Dr. Delanna Reed. Dr. Reed, a member of the Jonesborough Storytellers Guild, is a professor with the Department of Communication and Performance at East Tennessee State University.

Join us as we get you in the spooky spirit of Halloween with a few Appalachian ghost stories and others from afar. Dr. Reed will bring these scary tales to life through spoken word. Visitors can bring a blanket or a chair and as the sun sets, take a seat around our campfire. These stories are suitable for ages 12 and up.

While we do not know if the Vances celebrated Halloween, we do know that they are descended from the Scots-Irish and their ancestors likely participated in Samhain. Our celebrations of Halloween originated with the ancient Celtic festival, Samhain. On the night of Samhain, people lit bonfires and wore costumes to ward off ghosts. Eventually this tradition would merge with All Saints Day, a celebration that honors all saints on November 1st. In the eighth century the evening became known as All Hallows Eve, eventually Halloween.

This program is free, donations are encouraged, and will be held from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Saturday, October 23rd at the Vance Birthplace State Historic Site, 911 Reems Creek Road, Weaverville, NC 28787.