The 2026 Festival features a fantastic lineup!
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Kevin Kling, Rev. Robert B. Jones, Sr., Geraldine Buckley,
Greg Victors and Ingrid Nixon all-in-one Festival weekend!
The best-of-the-best will again be at the Kansas Storytelling Festival, Downs, KS, on April 24-25, 2026.
2026 PERFORMERS
Kevin Kling
Kevin Kling hails from Minneapolis, Minnesota and has performed his stories in libraries, school gymnasiums, The Kennedy Center, Off-Broadway, regional theaters and storytelling festivals around the US. Minneapolis’ Story Laureate since 2014, Kevin has been a frequent featured teller at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborogh, TN. His most recent show, “Kevin Kling: Unraveled”
premiered at the 2025 Contemporary American Theater Festival. Kevin’s international tours have included Australia, Europe and Thailand. He has authored five books and produced 9 CDs. His website is kevinkling.com.
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Rev. Robert B. Jones Sr.
Rev. Robert B. Jones, Sr. is a renaissance man. He has been a professional musician for more than forty years. The legendary blues man, Willie Dixon encouraged him to bring his music into schools over 35 years ago. In fact, The National Blues Foundation recognized his work as a leading blues educator in 2007. He has been a Pastor for more than 20 years, and he has been a nationally recognized storyteller for more than fifteen years. All of those experiences have allowed him work in a variety of ways and to apply his speaking and musical skills to educate, entertain, and inspire. At the heart of his message is the belief that our cultural diversity tells a story that should celebrate, not just tolerate.
Geraldine Buckley
British-born, internationally known, award-winning storyteller, speaker, and educator, Geraldine Buckley is known for her natural warmth and delightful sense of humor, as well as her wise, witty personal stories that make people laugh and think. She teaches workshops and tells stories in conferences, colleges, corporations, prisons, schools, house concerts, and festivals throughout America, and as far away as New Zealand. She has been featured at many festivals including several times at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee, as well as the Timpanogos Festival in Lehigh, Utah.
Greg Victors
Greg Victors, is the World Champion Wichita War Dancer and is of the Tohono O'Odham and Ponca Nations. He has been a Native performer since his childhood. He has a passion for not only performing but educating people about his culture and its beautiful history. Greg feels a deep responsibility to share and preserve the native culture through dancing, singing and storytelling. Coming from a culture with little written documentation, history and culture are passed down throughout the tribe orally. Stories, folklore and traditional teachings all play a significant role in learning about the first peoples of the Americas. Greg has received numerous championship titles, and accolades for his performances and serves as an advocate for Native American rights.
Ingrid Nixon
Ingrid Nixon is a professional storyteller and retired National Park Service ranger, who has worked in expedition tourism for over three decades, sharing stories of exploration, folklore, culture, and natural history while leading groups to all seven continents.
As an award-winning storyteller, Ingrid performs historical stories, myths, tall tales, folktales and more at events and festivals throughout the United States, including the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, TN. She produces and hosts, “Story Borealis” a radio program dedicated to the art of oral storytelling on National Public Radio affiliate KBBI in Alaska. All three of Ingrid's recordings -- Grimm’s with a Twist, Operation Bouncy Chair, Lost Hearts and Other Creepy Stories have earned the Storytelling World Gold Seal for listeners of all ages. She earned a masters in Storytelling from East Tennessee State University
