StoryTown Radio Show
2026 Season Passes
The StoryTown Radio Show kicks off a brand-new season on January 26, 2026, with a special performance sharing favorite stories and highlights from the past fifteen years. This live, one-hour production is performed in the style of an old-time radio show and features true stories from across the region. These heartwarming and hilarious tales highlight the unique character of Jonesborough, East Tennessee, and Appalachia. In addition to great storytelling fun, the show also brings in the best music acts in the region. This season we’ll have fan favorites like Momma Molasses along with newer acts like Junction 4961 and the Science Hill High School Steel Toppers.
The talented ensemble cast features nationally and internationally acclaimed storytellers, actors, and voice actors; and is filled with talented actors who appear in mainstage productions throughout the Tri-Cities. They come together each month to perform the stories of this land and its people. The Radio Show also partners with the International Storytelling Center to include featured tellers from their Storytelling Live series.
Each episode is filled with stories collected from the community around a certain theme. The script is written from these oral stories, and the cast brings them to life each month onstage with skits, reoccurring characters, history, and vintage commercials. These performances are recorded and then aired on local NPR station WETS 89.5 FM. Once aired, the show is made available as a podcast on the StoryTown app or online at: https://storytown.simplecast.com/. Over 100 episodes are readily available to listen to on demand, any time.
The live, family-friendly show performs each month at the McKinney Center in Jonesborough. Audiences get to be part of the action and have a chance to see the behind-the-scenes working of a live radio show, complete with a foley operator who handles the sound effects. Audiences are also treated to a special pre-concert by the music guests, who play a small set before the show. It’s our 15th season, so you know we’ll have lots of surprises up our sleeves.
Season passes are only $90, which includes one free show in the 2026 regular season. The hour-long productions perform on the 4th Monday of each month at 7PM. Season Passes can be purchased by calling the Historic Visitors Center at 423-753-1010 or online at Jonesborough.com/tickets, click on Event Packages. More information can be found at storytownradio.com.
The StoryTown Radio Show is a proud recipient of an Arts Access Grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission.
2026 StoryTown Season Live at the McKinney Center
Purchase Tickets Here link www.Jonesborough.com/tickets Or Call the Visitors Center at 423-753-1010
Shows Begin at 7PM
Schedule and music guests for the StoryTown 2026 season (musical acts are subject to change):
2026 Show Schedule:
January 26, 7PM
Tell Me a Story: Radio Show
Greatest Hits
Momma Molasses
February 23, 7PM
Black and White and Shades of Gray
Junction 4961
Performed at Visitors Center
March 23, 7PM
Rolling Out the Welcome Mat: Tales of
Safe Spaces & Places
Mr. Fancy
April 27, 7PM
“A County Boy with a Dream”:
Jimmy Neil Smith Stories
SHHS Steel Toppers
May 25, 7PM
Annual Salute to Veterans
Jonesborough Novelty Band
June 22, 7PM
Dear Old Dad
Thee Tim White
July 27, 7PM
Paws & Reflect: Stories about Our Four-Legged Friends
The Academics
August 24, 7PM
Stories from the Classroom: Teachers’ Edition
September 28, 7PM
Life on the Farm: Then & Now
David Crockett Madrigal Singers
October 26, 7PM
Kooky and Spooky
Lightnin’ Charlie
Performed at the Jackson Theatre
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ABOUT THE MCKINNEY CENTER
The McKinney Center at Booker T. Washington School is a multi-use facility providing arts education through Jonesborough's Mary B. Martin Program.