YOUR AD HERE »

WordWave: A Festival of Story returns to South Lake Tahoe

Autumn Whitney
awhitney@tahoedailytribune.com
WordWave: A Festival of Story returns to Valhalla Tahoe on Friday, Oct. 21.
Courtesy / Denise Haerr |

Celebrate interest and achievement in literary work this weekend at Valhalla Tahoe with the second annual WordWave: A Festival of Story, held from Friday, Oct. 21, through Sunday, Oct. 23. The three-day festival is filled with events ranging from a steampunk ball to author talks, workshops and more. Best yet — most festival events are free to attend for all ages. If you’re a writer, a fan of literature, a performer or simply want to learn more about storytelling, WordWave is something you won’t want to miss.

Day 1

Fun kicks off on Friday, Oct. 21, at 6 p.m. with the second annual Tall Timber Ball, a steampunk-style event that almost requires you to dress up. Come decked in flannel, bowler hats, high-heeled boots and other grunge — and get ready to dance the night away in the woods with music from DJ Damien.



The Tall Timber Ball also features a steampunk photo booth and unusual silent auction items.

“There’s a handmade leather art or writing journal that’s been made by local artist Cyndy Brown Carlson. The top has a little door you’d open and there’s a three-dimensional steampunk octopus inside,” WordWave cofounder Jennifer Sander said.



Prizes will be awarded to the best looks of the night — so come dressed to impress. Heavy appetizers, beer and wine will be served at the event. Tickets for this portion of WordWave start at $75.

Day 2

The most action-packed day of WordWave begins on Saturday, Oct. 22, at 10 a.m. with Native American storytelling from Ralph Burns, a Paiute elder. The day continues with a variety of talks and workshops in the Grand Hall at Valhalla Tahoe, featuring headliner Galadrielle Allman, daughter of Duane Allman of The Allman Brothers Band.

“You don’t have to be a booklover to come listen to her talk about growing up as the daughter of a rock legend,” Sander said.

Additional goings-on include a novel writing camp for children with author Lewis Buzbee, poetry workshops with Alice Anderson, learning about the memoir process and discussions on the writer’s journey and transformative power of stories. In the afternoon, attendees have the chance to meet one-on-one with a literary agent for 10 minutes. Pitch your book idea and get professional feedback on your story.

“It’s our hope people begin to see South Lake Tahoe for the creative center it is. There are so many creative people here already — so many writers, so many musicians — South Lake Tahoe public library does a great job and has a very active crowd there. We would love to see people recognize South Lake Tahoe as a burgeoning literary and creative center,” Sander said.

All day there is a makers’ fair, which boasts hands-on activities for all ages. Here people get the opportunity to learn about letterpress printing, create their own found poetry and more.

The day comes to a close with one-act play performances at 7:30 p.m., featuring works from three playwrights across North America. Including both comedies and dramas, these works of art are great for fans of live theatre. Tickets for the one-act play event are $10.

Day 3

WordWave concludes on Sunday, Oct. 23, with “Mysterious Morning,” which begins at 11 a.m. Enjoy muffins and coffee while conversing with authors Todd Borg, James Rollins and Galadrielle Allman. A book sale will also be conducted.

Parking at Valhalla Tahoe is limited — carpooling and early arrival are recommended.

Want to learn more? Additional information about WordWave is available at http://www.tahoewordwave.com. Tickets for specific events are also available for purchase online.


Support Local Journalism

Support Local Journalism

Readers around the Lake Tahoe Basin and beyond make the Tahoe Tribune's work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.

Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.

Your donation will help us continue to cover COVID-19 and our other vital local news.