Storytelling Initiative
TELLICO COMMUNITY PLAYHOUSE | Studio 212 Programs
Storytelling Initiative
The 2026 Appalachian Storytelling-Cycle
Haints & Hollers
Our Halloween Scary Story Circle and 2026 Season Finale
Saturday, October 31, 2026 | 7:00–9:00 PM
Tellico Community Playhouse
In the mountains, the best ghost stories never came from books. They were told on the porch after supper, when the lamps burned low and the woods went dark. Every hollow had its haint: a light on the ridge no one could explain, a footstep on the stair in an empty house, a knock at the door with nobody there.
Haints & Hollers is the fifth gathering and grand finale of our 2026 Appalachian Storytelling-Cycle, and we're going all out. On Halloween night, the Tellico Community Playhouse becomes a haunted mansion. The Playhouse will be dressed for the season, the witches' punch will be brewing, and there will be refreshments, prizes, and plenty of good company for a spirited Halloween night. Come in costume and get in the spirit of things!
This is the night for storytellers to show their stuff. All season long, you've been gathering the tools of the trade: finding your story, painting it with sensory detail, and playing your voice like an instrument. If you'd like to put them to work, bring a scary story to share. If you'd rather sit back and let the shivers come to you, you're just as welcome. Every good tale needs good listeners. For those who'd like to tell, a few guidelines:
- Keep it 3–5 minutes.
- Keep it GP-rated. Think porch tale, not slasher film.
- It doesn't have to be original, but it does have to be your rendition.
- Use your tools. The pause before the creak. The whisper before the door swings open. The silence that makes everyone lean in.
Prizes will be awarded for the best costumes and for the storytellers who make the room shiver, so if you're telling, polish your tale and come ready. And if you're listening, come ready to lean in. Telling is always an invitation, never a requirement.
Feeling shy? Let your costume do the talking. Some of the best tales are told in character.
Keep an eye on the shadows. A ghostly visitor or two may drop by with tales of their own.
No stage fright required, and no experience necessary. Whether you've told ghost stories around campfires for years or this will be the first story you've ever told aloud, there's a place for you in the circle.
Please register, even if you're only coming to listen. We're preparing refreshments, prizes, and a house full of haunts, and we want enough for every guest who walks through the door. If you plan to tell a tale, let us know when you sign up.
The Details
Date: Saturday, October 31, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: Tellico Community Playhouse
Costumes: Encouraged, with prizes for the best!
Bring: A 3–5 minute scary story if you'd like to tell one, or just your best listening ears
Cost: Free, but please sign up so we know how much witches' punch to brew
Sign Up
Dare to join us? Fill out the form below and click Submit. We'll send you a confirmation with everything you need to know.
✦ The porch light is on, the moon is high, and something is rustling in the hollow. Come tell us what you heard. ✦