Women’s Storytelling Festival FAQ
The first Women’s Storytelling Festival was in March 2020 in the City of Fairfax, VA, produced by Better Said Than Done.
How do I get tickets to the Women’s Festival?
You can find links to purchase virtual or in-person tickets to the 2025 Women’s Storytelling Festival here.
If you prefer to pay with a check, please contact [email protected] at least two weeks before the festival starts.
Why have a Women’s Festival?
We produced the festival to give women more of a platform than is currently available. Women make up about 80% of the professional storytelling population but are often underrepresented on the Festival circuit. The Women’s Storytelling Festival is a place where women can raise their voices up, louder than anyone else’s. Where women can be heard. Where our stories will be felt, carried, and taken out into the world.
Here is a post by Jessica Robinson on the National Storytelling Network blog about the concept for the festival.
When is the Festival?
The Women’s Storytelling Festival takes place each year on a weekend in March.
The 2025 Women’s Storytelling Festival is will take place March 20 – 23, 2025. There is a virtual only showcase on March 20, 2025. In-person storytelling, along with the live-stream, starts at 7:00pm ET on Friday, March 21, 2025, and continues through Sunday evening, March 23, 2025.
The Women’s Storytelling Festival is hosted from Virginia. We are in the Eastern Time Zone.
Where is the Festival?
The Women’s Storytelling Festival takes place in Fairfax City, VA, about 20 minutes outside of Washington, DC.
The 2025 Women’s Storytelling Festival will take place at the Sherwood Community Center, 3740 Blenheim Blvd, Fairfax, VA 22030. The whole festival will also be live streamed to, and available after on, YouTube.
What can we expect at the WSF?
Storytelling, of course. The type of storytelling will be varied. Festival storytellers share personal stories, folk tales, history, and flat out lies. (Lying is a popular form of storytelling, after all.) The Festival is intended for a mature audience.
Is it kid-friendly?
No. The festival is intended for a mature audience. If you are considering bringing a child, please note, there will be some stories involving adult content.
What’s your covid policy?
Individuals should not attend if feeling sick or experiencing symptoms, have been diagnosed with, or believe to have contracted, COVID-19 or any other contagious illness. The WSF is live-streamed and available to watch online for one month after, so if you are feeling unwell, please stay home. Attendees of the Women’s Storytelling Festival assume all risks associated with the possibility of exposure to or contracting of any illness.
Who is Better Said Than Done?
Better Said Than Done, founded in 2011 by Jessica Robinson, is a community of storytellers based in Fairfax, VA. We produce themed, true, personal storytelling shows throughout Northern Virginia and beyond. We also offer in-house storytelling workshops, corporate workshops and keynote presentations. Better Said Than Done was granted 501(c)(3) status as a public charity in October 2023.
Getting To The Festival.
There is plenty of free parking at the Sherwood Community Center. The nearest Metro stop is the Vienna Metro station and you can call a ride from there. Buses also runs regularly through Fairfax. If you find yourself lost, email festival (at) bettersaidthandone (.) com for directions.
Closest Airports
- The Dulles Airport (IAD)
- Reagan National Airport (DCA)
- Baltimore International Airport is about an 80 minute drive
Where to stay?
- Holiday Inn Express Fairfax – Arlington Blvd., 10327 Fairfax Blvd., Fairfax, VA 22030. We have rooms blocked at the Holiday Inn Express. To get our Room Rate – FOLLOW THIS LINK. Once you select your dates, you can choose group rate “BSD” from the pull down menu.
- Courtyard Fairfax – 11220 Lee Jackson Memorial Highway (Rte. 50), Fairfax, VA 22030.
- Best Western Fairfax – 3535 Chain Bridge Rd, Fairfax, VA 22030
How are festival storytellers chosen?
We have received 100s of applications for the Women’s Storytelling Festival. Our committee of 8 reviews all applications and chooses storytellers approximately 6 months in advance of the next festival. We base our selection first and foremost on quality – writing and performance skills. After that, we look for a diverse array of storytellers who are enthusiastic, professional (who conduct themselves professionally even if storytelling is not their primary profession), and willing to promote the festival and their role in it. It is also a bonus to have performed with Better Said Than Done before – and exhibited all the aforementioned qualities. It also helps to have participated as an enthusiastic audience member.
How do I apply to be in the festival?
We will review all past and current applications on an annual basis, and hold onto applications for 5 years. Fill out an APPLICATION HERE.
How can I share a story in the 2025 festival?
We will be hosting a Story Swap on Sunday, March 23, 2025 at the Sherwood Center, open to all in-person ticket holders. This is an open mic session where we will pull names from the hat and hear some stories! We do live stream and record the Story Swap so our virtual audience can see your performance and you’ll be able to get a video of your story after ticket sales close.
During the Story Swap, Sunday morning, write your name (legibly, please) on a piece of paper (which we will provide) and put it in the basket for your chance to tell. Names will be drawn randomly and tellers are limited to 6 minutes.
How do I keep up with Festival and/or storytelling news?
Like and Follow the WSF Facebook Page
or Better Said Than Done’s Facebook Page
Keep up on Instagram
Subscribe to our Blog
Subscribe to our Newsletter
You didn’t answer my question. Help!
Didn’t see your question answered?
Contact [email protected]
Please note, we may be slow to respond during the festival as we’ll be running a festival. Please be patient.