Adult ghost story festival channels Halloween spirit

Friday’s annual Festival of Ghost Stories will weave tales of Native American hauntings and gigantic rats this Friday. \nFor 30 years, the event– sponsored by the city of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department, the Monroe County Public Library and the Storytellers’ Guild – has brought in 250 to 500 Bloomington residents. The sponsors hope this year is no different. \nThe event will be held from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday in Lower Cascades Park, located at 2851 N. Old State Road 37. In case of rain, the event will be moved to the Monroe County Public Library, said Margaret Harter, community relations coordinator for the Monroe County Public Library. \nThe Bloomington Storytellers’ Guild will bring these ghostly tales to life. Ten different storytellers will read an original story they wrote or recite a traditional story, said Sarah Nix, the community events specialist for city parks and recreation. \nJosh Wolf, library manager of children services at the Monroe County Public Library, is one of the storytellers who will be performing Friday. Wolf, who has been a member of the Guild for about six years, will tell the ancient folktale of a man whose godfather was death. Although his story is not an original piece of work, other storytellers do have original stories that will be heard at the festival. \n“There is a serious desire for (storytelling),” Wolf said. The Guild has been keeping that tradition alive by participating in events such as the Festival of Ghost Stories since 1973. Many of the storytellers who will be performing this Friday also perform individually at various events. \nThe topics of the stories will consist of typical Halloween topics such as the supernatural, ghosts and horror, said Ginny Richey, who is also part of the Storytellers’ Guild. For example, there will be a story about oversized rats that live in graveyards. \nThe festival is a free event for all Bloomington residents. Free cider will also be provided for the audience. In between the stories, a musician will sing Halloween-themed stories to help set the spooky mood for this event.\nAlthough this is a family event, Harter and Wolf both strongly recommended that young children do not attend due to the content of the stories. The stories are aimed at an older, teen-to-adult audience.\n“I just enjoy seeing the community come together and enjoy the park in late October,” Nix said. “It is nice to see people in the park enjoying the great fall weather and enjoying the stories.”