In addition to the Tall Tales Qualifier in Downs, qualifiers will take place in Tonganoxie and Wichita.

The Tonganoxie qualifier will take place Saturday at the Tonganoxie Community Historical Society Museum building, 201 W. Washington St. This free event is sponsored by the Tonganoxie Arts Council. The Tall Tale competition will begin at 5 p.m. Judging and dinner will start at 6:30 p.m., as the 1866 food truck will be on site for food purchases. Tonganoxie Arts Council will provide drinks and desserts; donations are encouraged for those items. Winners will be announced at 7:30 p.m. and storyteller and comedian Paul Strickland will perform at 7:35 p.m.

Everyone is welcome to enter the competition at these Tall Tale qualifier events. One qualifier will be selected from Tonganoxie, one from Wichita and two from the October event in Downs. The four qualifiers will then compete at the Kansas Storytelling Festival on April 24-25, 2026, for the coveted traveling trophy — a shovel. Tonganoxie’s own Keyta Kelly won the title in 2015, 2016 and 2017. If a participant wins the award three times, that person is deemed a master storyteller and must retire from the competition.

Downs is in Osborne County in north central Kansas on U.S. Highway 24, about a 90-minute drive northwest of Salina.

A tall tale is a unique form of American storytelling in which the narrator usually has a part in the story. Telling a tall tale uses exaggerated detail describing things larger than they really are. A tall tale is a story based on a fact, or facts, and filled with unbelievable elements told as if they were true and factual. A tall tale has just enough truth to make a good story and to incite the imagination. Professional storytellers cannot compete. Information and rules for the Tall Competition are posted at kansasstorytellingfestival.com.

Following the judging, professional storyteller and theater artist Paul Stickland will provide additional entertainment. More information can be found at tonganoxieartscouncil.org.

The Wichita qualifier will take place Sept. 20 at Wichita’s Mid-America All-Indian Museum, 650 N. Seneca St. More details will be available soon.

The final Tall Tales qualifier will be in Downs on the traditional second Saturday of October (Oct. 11 this year). This event will begin at 7 p.m. at the Zion Lutheran Church in Downs.

Interested individuals can enter any of the events, or all of them if not selected as top qualifier. To register for each event, please go to the Kansas Storytelling Festival website: kansasstorytellingfestival.com or the Kansas Storytelling Facebook page: facebook.com/KansasStorytellingFestival.