Appalachian folk tales and Japanese storytelling set for Super Saturday

Published 11:55 am Tuesday, February 7, 2023

TRYON Organizers for Super Saturday recently announced two exciting additions to their line-up.

Johnny Thomas Fowler, mountain heritage storyteller, award-winning musician and author, will perform at this year’s Super Saturday. 

Fowler’s storytelling is a wonderful anthology of Appalachian folk tales, fairy tales, outrageous tall tales and contemporary yarns, combining traditional songs and ballads. He is a two-time harmonica champion at Fiddler’s Grove Old Music Festival in Union Grove, N.C. He also received blue ribbons in the banjo competition at the prestigious Mountain Dance Folk Festival in Asheville and the Pickens Heritage Day Old-Time Music Festival. 

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Come see his hilarious, creative, energetic and historically informative performances at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. at the Congregational Church in Tryon.

Also, this year’s Super Saturday will feature a fascinating glimpse into Japanese culture with Yasu Ishida, who is set to perform at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. at Tryon Theatre.

Combining traditional Japanese theater, music, origami, magic, and storytelling, “Magic Story Artist” Yasu Ishida will guide you to the enchanting land of Japan! Yasu has performed all around the U.S., including the Disney Summer Stage Kids in New York, the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C., and the Hawaii Music and Book Festival.

Children’s Theater Festival’s presentation of Super Saturday is supported by grants from the Mary F. Kessler Fund at the Polk County Community Foundation. Organizers are also grateful to the Polk County Community Foundation for administering the George and Ester Moore Endowment Fund, Arthur M. and Frances H. Wilhelm Fund, the Dixie and Harry Evans Charitable Endowment Fund, and the Super Saturday Fund.

Super Saturday is on Saturday, March 18. For more information on locations and performance times, visit our website, tryonsupersaturday.com, or follow Super Saturday on Facebook. If you would like to volunteer, please email supersaturdayinfo@gmail.com.