The National Storytelling Festival will welcome some of the world’s best storytellers Oct. 3-5 to the International Storytelling Center in downtown Jonesborough.The event is packed full of activities including dozens of world-renowned storytellers, food and merchandise vendors, and an anticipated crowd of more than 100,000 visitors encompassing nearly the entire historic downtown area. Several events leading up to the weekend include concerts, a Wine and Beer Garden, and an additional day of storytelling featuring Donald Davis 7:30 p.m. Oct. 1 in the Library Tent on the festival grounds.“To see how this festival has grown has been exciting to see,” says Brenda Whitson, executive director of the Johnson City Convention and Visitors Bureau. “What started in 1973 as a few good storytellers and a handful of entertained listeners exchanging stories has turned into what’s now called one of the Top 100 Events in North America.”Featured tellers include New York Times best-selling children’s author Carmen Deedy; Kevin Kling, best known for his popular commentaries on NPR’s “All Things Considered”; Megan Wells, known for her one-woman shows, including “Dracula,” “Psyche and Eros,” and historical re-enactments of famous women; and The Healing Force, a family of performers who use a cappella singing, West African drums, guitar, shekeres and thumb pianos in their show.Hilarious tales, ghost stories, storytellers that are self-described “fantastic liars,” inspirational stories, and stories that utilize art, music, song, and dance are planned.For more information, visit www.storytellingcenter.net/festival.