Join us at the 2025 DMPL Storytelling Festival at Franklin Avenue Library on Saturday, February 22!
Experience the oral tradition of storytelling throughout the day as our featured storytellers share personal stories and traditional tales. We'll also have family-friendly activities, like face painting, a scavenger hunt, and a craft.
Schedule of Events
Franklin Avenue Library Meeting Room
10:30-11:15 AM: Kenyan Traditions with Josie Shaw - KIDS & FAMILIES
- Get ready to sing and dance during this interactive program as Josie Shaw shares traditional songs and stories from the Luhya culture of Western Kenya. This session is for youngsters and the young at heart!
12:30-1:30 PM: Feathered Pigs, Feisty Princesses, and Imported Cats with Darrin Crow - ALL AGES
- When Darrin's family came to Iowa in the 1840s, they brought more than dishes, pots, and pans, and clothes. They brought stories. He'll be sharing some of his favorite stories – tales that are silly, tall, full of joy.
2-3 PM: Humorous and Heartwarming Tales with Darrin Crow and Jeff Doyle -TEENS & ADULTS
- Get out of the cold and warm up with storytellers Darrin and Jeff as they share humorous and heartwarming stories. Spoiler alert: These are NOT the Disney versions.
3:30-4:30 PM: Pole Barn Dreams with Jeff Doyle - ADULTS
- Jeff Doyle is a champion liar and, in this showcase, he shows us why. Expect the unexpected as Jeff explores his dream of owning a pole barn and other impossibilities.
Franklin Avenue Library Children's Area
10:30 AM-4:30 PM: A family friendly craft to inspire your imagination, and a fun scavenger hunt throughout the children’s area
11:30 AM-1:30 PM: Face painting with Queen Bee
Meet the Storytellers

Josie Shaw
Josie Shaw has a passion for educating people about Africa and shares that passion through her fun and interactive CultureALL programs. Josie currently lives in Clive with her son and miniature poodle.
Darrin Crow
Darrin Crow’s boundless energy and love for stories of all kinds allow him to connect audiences to worlds of magic and wonder in both traditional tales and original narratives. He currently lives in Cedar Rapids.

Jeff Doyle
As a nationally acclaimed storyteller, Jeff’s gift for keeping it real highlights the truths of human nature. His ability to draw listeners into his world makes his performances both compelling and memorable.