With the exception of Friday and Saturday evening, and the Saturday breakfast, all other events are free and require no advance registration.
Friday, may 8
Come to Paris early on Friday to shop, eat and stroll downtown Paris.
7to 9 pm
Laughing Night
Hotel Thoroughbred, 530 Main Street, Paris (map)
NEW VENUE for this festival favorite! Josh Goforth, Paul Strickland, Donald Davis will perform at the newly opened Hotel Thoroghbred and leave the crowd laughing. Cash bar available. $15 individual tickets are limited, so reserve yours early.
Saturday, may 9
8:00 to 9:45 am
Breakfast at Trackside
Trackside at the Depot, 134 East 10th Street, Paris (map)
Start your day off right by enjoying a breakfast at Trackside at the Depot while listening to stories by Mary Hamilton.
Breakfast will be served from 8:00 to 9:00, it will be served cafeteria style with one time through the line for $22.50. At 9:00 the stories will begin.
Tables will be reserved for those eating breakfast only. For those not eating breakfast, a limited number of seats will be available, but you are also free to bring your own chair.
Please call Trackside at (859) 340-3010 for reservations.
IN 2025 CALL
(859) 340-3010
FOR RESERVATIONS
10:30 am to 11:15 am
Horse Tails
Secretariat Park 525 Main St, Paris, KY 40361 (map)
Paul Stickland will tell a story featuring a hose at Secretariat Park on Main Street.
FREE
11:30 am to 12:15 pm
Jam Session with Josh Goforth
Paris-Bourbon County Library, 701 High Street, Paris (map)
Our jam session and singalong will once again be lead by Josh Goforth a Grammy Award Nominated multi-instrumentalist. Anyone who plays an instrument, sings or just loves to listen to music is invited.
FREE
12:15 to 1:30 pm
Lunch Break
Enjoy downtown restaurants and shopping
Downtown restaurants include All About Kentucky, Lil’s, Paradise Café, Happy People Coffee, La Esperanza, The Graze, The Market and Trackside
1:30pm to 4:30 pm
Storytelling Showcase
Wallis Arboretum, 616 Pleasant Street, Paris (map)
45 minute stories from 3 tellers.
Donald Davis 1:30-2:15
Shelia Arnold 2:20:3:05
Antonio Rocha The Malaga Ship* 3:10-4:25
*Appropriate for audiences 12 years old and older
Seating will be available under a tent.
FREE
6:00 to 9 pm
An Evening of Dinner & Storytelling
Wallis Arboretum, 616 Pleasant Street, Paris (map)
Enjoy a spectacular evening of dinner and storytelling from all six storytellers under a tent in the backyard of the historic Wallis House. Dinner at 6:00. Advanced tickets required. Tickets are $35 per person or $350 for a reserved table that seats up to 8..
Sunday, may 10
Storytelling in the Churches
Each of our six tellers will share a 20-minute story as part of the services at a local church.
Sheila Arnold – 10:45 – 12:00
First Christian Church Paris
911 High Street Paris, Ky 40361
Donald Davis – 11:00
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church
311 High St, Paris, KY 40361
Paul Strickland – 10:45
First Presbyterian of Paris
517 Pleasant St, Paris, KY 40361
Josh Goforth – 11:00-12:00
First Baptist Church Carlisle
345 N Locust St, Carlisle, KY 40311
Mary Hamilton – 11:00-12:00
Clintonville Christian Church
141 Austerlitz Rd, Paris, KY 40361
Adam Booth – 10:45-12:00
North Middletown Christian Church
1976 Thatchers Mill Rd, Paris, KY 40361
In Addition
Storytellers will also be visiting Bourbon County Schools, Paris Independent Schools, St. Mary School and Nicholas County Schools. These events are open to students only. Adam Booth will be telling stories at Bourbon Heights and Josh Goforth will tell stories at Hunt Brothers’ Pizza these events too are open just to residents and employees.
Paris Story Fest 