ABS students enjoyed the short ride on the bus to downtown Athens and excitedly walked the remaining block to the Courthouse Square where the Spirit of Athens Storytelling Festival was being held.

They entered the big red-and-white striped  tent along with many
other students from Athens City and Limestone County schools.

Downtown Athens had been beautifully decorated with cornstalks, hay bales,  pumpkins and ribbons.

Local quilters had a good view of  all the action going on downtown.

Andy Irwin   performed amusing interactive anecdotes, whistling, and songs.

Carmen Deedy held students captive with a “cuento,” or story, about Juan Bobo.

Children listened with rapt attention to all the storytellers and reacted with enthusiastic applause and vocal interaction.

Donald Davis  told a funny story about the time when he was growing up and was asked to "watch his baby brother" while his mother worked in the garden.

Bil Lepp  recalled a camping trip on which his father was driving and "would not stop."

photos by Joyce Buchanan

Hundreds of people enjoyed  "An Evening with  Kathryn T. Windham " after which
Mrs. Windham autographed books.

photo by Sam Buchanan

Mrs. Windham has been a regular at storytelling festivals nationwide for more than twenty years,