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The 10th Annual Menlo Park Storytelling Festival kicks off with a fun, action-filled bilingual performance by Colombian artists Linda Gallo Bedoya and Jaime E. Riascos Villegas.Sharing “short stories for short legs,” Linda and Jaime will bring us delightful tales from the Latin American oral tradition—a participatory experience that will be fun for children and adults alike!
About the Storytellers:
Born in Colombia, Linda and Jaime of Smiley Stories have become known as among the best storytellers in Latin America, receiving special recognition from their country’s Ministry of Culture. Their performances have been showcased at international theater festivals from Spain to Argentina, earning awards and recognition in several countries. Their workshops, presentations, and conferences have been held at prestigious universities including Stanford, Berkeley, UCLA, Dartmouth, and Cornell. https://smileystories.org/
This is one of eight events in the 10th Annual Menlo Park Storytelling Festival. Join us for one event, or the whole series!
- 11/2: Smiley Stories: Latin American Soul - Belle Haven Library - All ages
- 11/12: Odd Salon and Curiosity Guild - Menlo Park Library - Adults & teens
- 11/15: Tellabration! ™ - Belle Haven Library - 6-Adult
- 11/16: Asian Storytopia - Belle Haven Library - “8-108”
- 11/22: Storytelling 101 Workshop - Belle Haven Library - “7-97+”
- 12/2: Regina Stoops: Coming Out—Again - Menlo Park Library - 6-Adult
- 12/5 - StoryFest - Online - Ages 6-Adult
- 12/7 - Diane Ferlatte: Knick Knack Paddy Whack - Belle Haven Library - All ages
About Storytelling:
Storytelling is telling stories--without using a book.
- It's an ancient art form that predates libraries, and books, and writing.
- It's not necessarily for children!
- Traditional-style storytelling creates unique images in the mind of each listener.
- According to the National Storytelling Network, "storytelling is the interactive art of using words and actions to reveal the elements and images of a story while encouraging the listener’s imagination. In storytelling, the listener imagines the story.”
- According to the Storytelling Association of California (an organization dedicated to promoting storytelling as a living art form), storytelling is “orally passing on adventures, wisdom, experiences, surprise, history, laughter, beliefs and imagination.”
This free event received funding support from the Friends of the Menlo Park Library.
Sunday, November 02, 2025 | 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM
Belle Haven Library, 100 Terminal Ave., Menlo Park, CA, 94025
https://www.menlopark.gov/Government/Departments/Library-and-Community-Services/Events/Events-for-children/20251102-Storytelling-Smiley-Stories
More free events with Menlo Park Library:
https://www.menlopark.gov/Citywide-calendar
Menlo Park Library on social media:
@menloparklibrary on Instagram & Facebook
@menlolibrary on Twitter/X
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
100 Terminal Ave, Menlo Park, CA 94025-1246, United States
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