2026 School Days Field Trips

REGISTRATION DEADLINE SEPT. 25

During School Days, local schools bring kids on their annual Storytelling Festival field trip to spend a few hours listening, laughing, and forming core memories with world-reknowned storytellers. Many of the kids who attend now have parents who attended when THEY were schoolchildren! We love to hear how grateful they are that their kids can enjoy the same invigorating experience.

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER YOUR CLASS:
Athens City, Lindsay Lane and Homeschool Groups, contact Leah Oakley at leahoakley78@yahoo.com

Limestone County and Athens Bible contact Annessa Jenkins at annessajenkins@lcsk12.org

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

8:45–10:35 a.m. Grades 3–5*
12:00–1:50 p.m. Grades 5-6*

Wednesday, October 21, 2026

8:45–10:35 a.m. Grades 6–8*
12:00–1:50 p.m. Grade 9*

Thursday, October 22, 2026

8:45–10:35 a.m. Grade 3–4*
12:00–1:50 p.m. Grades 3–5*

Student Storytelling Competition

Our student competition starts in Athens City and Limestone County school classrooms under the instruction of our wonderful educators. The kids are encouraged to participate by either reciting well-known fairy tales, original stories, or even long-form jokes in front of their classmates. Their teachers work with them to refine their performances and choose winners from elementary, intermediate, middle school, and high school tiers.

Student Teller Competition: Thursday, October 15, 2026 at 6:00 pm

Special thanks to Athens State University for allowing our top students from each school to compete on the historic McCandless Hall stage, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026 in front of a panel of judges. The night will be rounded out by a few surprise tellers.

Student Teller Showcase: Tuesday, October 20, 2026 at 6:00 pm

The more polished performers are selected to take the storytelling stage in the tent Tuesday night, October 19, during our festival when they perform for their families and friends.

Veterans Night Olio: Thursday, October 22, 2026 at 7:00pm

The top 3–4 student storytellers and their families are invited to join us at 5:00 for dinner catered by Sweetest Things Tearoom in the Banquet Hall in the ASU Student Center. Afterwards, they get to share the stage with the professional tellers during the Tellers Olio. What great experience this gives the kids, both in crafting stories but also in the art of presenting them.

Storytelling is a vital part of early education. The crafting of stories helps children learn how to organize thoughts and experiences into a thoughtful narrative. This ability is crucial for clear communication in the business, research, marketing, the arts and many other industries.

By encouraging our schoolchildren to appreciate the art of storytelling, we are giving them a firsthand look at the power of words, and the importance of communicating those words in an entertaining, yet succinct, way. Many thanks to our North Alabama legislators for making it possible for our school kids to attend the festival during our School Days free of charge!

The Heroes of Our Story!

The children in our area would not receive the benefit of seeing internationally-renowned storytellers free of charge without the dedication of our local legislators. When you see them around, thank them for making our kids a priority!

Senator Tim Melson
Senate District 1

Senator Tom Butler
Senate District 2

Senator Arthur Orr
Senate District 3

Senator Larry Stutts
Senate District 6

Representative Ben Harrison
House District 2

Representative Parker Moore
House District 4

Representative Danny Crawford
House District 5

Representative Andy Whitt
House District 6

Representative Phillip Rigsby
House District 25