Residents of the southern Missouri Ozarks have their own unique experiences tied to the region they call home.

Officials in the University/Community Programs (U/CP) Department at Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) would like to hear them at the first ever Southern Missouri Folklore Festival March 24 at the West Plains Civic Center theater.

“After the success of our film festival last fall, we realized that our community members have so much to offer and are eager to participate in our events,” said U/CP Theater and Events Coordinator Hannah Salvesen.

“What better way to remember our heritage and look to our future than with a storytelling event where community members of all ages can share their stories,” she added.

Contest details

Community members age eight and above are invited to prepare a story for the festival and submit it as a Google document by March 1. Story topics should stay within the following categories:

• family history
• family biography
• childhood memory
• personal growth story
• local historical event
• local historical figure biography
• regional lore or legend

Winners from five different age brackets will be selected to tell their stories on stage March 24. The age categories are:

• grades 4-6
• grades 7-9
• grades 10-12
• college students
• community members

For more information about the festival and how to submit entries, contact the U/CP office at 417-255-7966, check out the event on the U/CP Department’s Facebook Page or visit the department’s website.