In honor of America’s 250th year, the 2026 Women’s Storytelling Festival is featuring a special showcase on History Through Women’s Stories. On Saturday afternoon from 2pm to 3:45 pm, four tellers will help us celebrate the role of women’s voices in shaping every aspect of American life. Emceed by NPR’s 1A host Jenn White, this showcase will change the way you define history. Come hear these often unrecognized perspectives as we celebrate our stories, ourselves.
View the Full Festival Schedule Here
Lona Bartlett will be telling the story of Zitkala-Sa (Gertrude Simmons Bonnin), an influential Native American activist integral to the fight for U.S. citizenship. Lona’s small-town upbringing in the Catskill Mountains and her degrees in education have led to be a popular performance artist, storyteller, and puppeteer, whose repertoire includes everything from folktales and fairy tales to personal stories.
Kristin Pedemonti will be performing as Marie Jenney Howe, suffragist and founder of Heterodoxy, an influential feminist debate society. Kristin’s skills in cross-cultural communication have led her to perform and present on 5 continents and 20 countries, including Colombia, Kenya, and Iran. She also practices Narrative Therapy, using the metaphor of Kintsugi, the Japanese art of mending broken pottery using lacquer mixed with precious metals to highlight, rather than hide, fractures.
Denise Page will be sharing a personal story set amidst the backdrop of the Civil Rights movement. Additionally, during the 11am showcase, Denise will be performing her solo show, “Legacy of a Wealthy Slave.” She founded Ubuntu Storytellers, an ensemble of story artists of Black and Brown ancestry. Along with Jen Munro (who is also appearing in the 2026 WSF), she co-founded “Women Tell By the Decades.” She is the immediate past president of the Connecticut Chapter of the National Speakers Association. Her personal narrative stories unite, inspire, and ignite her audience members.
Megan Wells will be appearing as Elizabeth Hamilton. Megan has won numerous awards including being a member of the National Storytelling Network Circle of Excellence. She has enthralled audiences for over 40 years with her wide-ranting repertoire of traditional tales, multicultural myths, historical retelling, and stories from her own life. Her passion and energy have made her a favorite with audiences at the Women’s Storytelling Festival – and every other venue she’s appeared at.
Join Better Said Than Done for the Women’s Storytelling Festival, March 19 – 22, 2026, both in-person in Fairfax City, VA, and live streaming online! The 2026 Women’s Storytelling Festival kicks off March 19 at 8:00pm Eastern/5:00pm Pacific with a virtual only showcase. The in-person storytelling starts at 7:00pm Eastern on March 20 and runs through the evening of March 22, 2026.
Virtual Festival Pass is $50 / Full Festival Pass is $70
One Day Tickets available at the Door for $35
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