Tellabration is a mammoth storytelling event - and that’s no tall tale! It’s a storytelling phenomenon made up of dozens of storytelling happenings all over the world. Its purpose is to introduce adults, as well as children, to the pleasures of the oral art of storytelling. It is one of the programs offered by The Connecticut Storytelling Center, based in New London.

The United Church of Chester (UCC), located at 29 Main Street, will host a Tellabration for families on Sunday, Nov. 5, at 4 p.m. Margie Warner and Ann Shapiro will perform. Refreshments will be served after the 45-minute program.

Ann Shapiro has been entertaining with her participatory music and storytelling programs for many years. She is recommended by the CT Office of the Arts as a Teaching Artist and, since 1999, serves as executive director for The CT Storytelling Center. A teaching artist in residence in CT schools, she helps students and teachers to keep folk traditions alive by sharing old stories and songs, followed by creating their own.

Ann will use the ancient art of storytelling and singing together to create a fun evening for families. Parents and children will leave their electronic devices behind and will be engrossed in fairy and folk tales and songs. Plan on laughing and participating! This program creates a feeling of community as everyone joins in.

With a unique understanding of what makes kids tick, Margie Warner has been teaching the joy and humor of life through music and story since 1979.

Offering residencies or single performances of her Music With Margie developmental music program for our "littlest listeners," as well as family concerts, sing-a-longs, workshops, and performances for school-age kids and adults, she customizes programming to suit a client’s needs, live or virtual.

This fun, interactive program entitled “Family Stories and Other Folk Songs” welcomes families and kids of all ages from 1 to 100! Suggested donation of $10 at the door. A portion of proceeds will go towards UCC’s Backpack Program with Chester Elementary, which provides students in need with food over weekends.

A full listing of Tellabration sites in Connecticut with dates and times can be found by logging onto http://www.connstorycenter.org and clicking on “Tellabration” or by calling The Connecticut Storytelling Center at 860-934-8165.