Storytellers spook locals

As the sun set over Bryan Park Friday night, more than 100 Bloomington residents — families, couples, kids — gathered in front of a lighted stage decorated with a grinning jack-o’-lantern back drop for an evening of scary storytelling at the Festival of Ghost Stories.

Bloomington Parks and Recreation, in conjunction with the Bloomington Storytellers Guild, came together for the 31st year to bring scary stories and hot apple cider to the community.

Greg Jacobs, community events coordinator for Bloomington Parks and Recreation, said this is one of many events the Parks and Recreation department puts on to celebrate fall.

Over the years, the event has brought more than just families out into the night to enjoy spooky tales, he said. Despite the chilly weather, he said the turnout was good.

“There are of course, lots of families,” Jacobs said. “But there are also people on dates, empty nesters and anyone just passing by.

“It has become much more than a family event as time has passed.”

The event hasn’t always been outdoors at Bryan Park, but as Jacobs looked at the spread of people listening, huddled under blankets, clutching cups of hot cider, he said this venue “seems to be the best fit.”

IU Library student Emily Stueven and her boyfriend said they were drawn to the event in part because it served as a nice date, but also because she is considering becoming a children’s librarian someday.

She said learning storytelling is an important part of being a good children’s librarian, and getting to see how professionals tell stories is a great learning opportunity as well as a fun time.

“This event is really cool,” Stueven said. “There is a nice variety of stories and story tellers. They’re very cinematic.”

One such storyteller, Ken Oguss, who told the story “The Melting Herb” at the event, grew up in a family of storytellers. He has been telling stories professionally since 1978. 

Though he has been many places around the world telling stories, he said he much prefers being in Bloomington with the Storytellers Guild because the people of Bloomington seem to respond best to traditional storytelling.

“I love telling stories here because the people of Bloomington take storytelling seriously,” Oguss said. “It isn’t just for kids.”