Stories belong in old houses
Ghostly Tales carries forward one of humanity’s oldest forms of entertainment: people gathering in a close room to hear a gifted storyteller lead them into mystery. The Old Parsonage’s hand-hewn logs, long history and intimate rooms create a memorable setting for an autumn evening.
The focus is live storytelling .... voice, timing, imagination and the delicious moment when an audience realizes the room has become very quiet.
Folklore brought to life
Kentucky has no shortage of strange roads, family legends, unsettled spirits and stories that begin with someone insisting, “Now this really happened.” Ghostly Tales gives those traditions a stage while welcoming nationally known and regional performers.
Dr. Rusty Rechenbach described the series to the Richmond Register as a recurring annual program inspired by the older custom of sharing ghost stories around a fire. By 2023, the parsonage had presented the event for seven years.
Paul Strickland at the Parsonage
The October 27, 2023 program featured Cincinnati storyteller Paul Strickland in two evening performances. Strickland’s work blends tall tales, music, comedy and richly imagined places. The event demonstrated what makes the series distinctive: a professional performance experienced only a few feet from the storyteller inside a building already filled with history.
Ask about the next evening of tales
Ghostly Tales dates, performers, times and admission vary from year to year. Call 859-358-8427 or follow the Old Parsonage on Facebook for the next announcement.
Come for the folklore. Stay because walking back to the car alone suddenly seems like a questionable life choice.
Source: Spencer Mahon, “History meets tales of the paranormal with Ghostly Tales,” Richmond Register, October 18, 2023.