How it All Began

Jocelyn Zanzot and Daniel Neil, former Ridge Project board members had the idea to present an Old Federal Road Storytelling Festival (OFRSF). It was the ideal way to commemorate Alabama's pioneer history and recognize its African American, European, and Native American heritage.

Jocelyn and Dan's idea translated well into an organizing theme for Macon County’s and the Ridge Project's participation in the Alabama 200 Bicentennial Celebration, and as a way to attract visitors to Macon County and the Ridge Project's Interpretive Center.

We presented festivals in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023, and 2024. We chose a theme for each Festival and centered all activities around the theme. The Town of Shorter, Alabama partnered with us to present the 2018, 2023, and 2024 Festivals. In 2019 we skipped a year to honor the memory of our star ambassador Willie J. Pace. We skipped 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

We produced a commemorative booklet for the 2017- 2024 Festivals to emphasize each unique theme. Each festival continues a tradition of fostering social cohesion by bringing people together to fellowship and enjoy entertaining and educational arts, culture, and symposium programs. We are looking forward to presenting future Festivals!

Each Festival continues a tradition of fostering social cohesion by bringing people together to fellowship and enjoy entertaining and educational arts, culture, and symposium programs. We are looking forward to presenting future Festivals!

Past Storytelling Festivals

2016

THEME: Alabama Bicentennial - People, Places, & Stories

Festival Poster by Jocelyn Zanzot

AUDIO HiGHLIGHTS at https://soundcloud.com/user-138845008/the-ridge-2016-ofrsf-festival-podcast?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

2017

2016

THEME: Discovering Our Places

Booklet cover by Jocelyn Zanzot

VIEW BOOKLET at https://issuu.com/trmcap/docs/2017_ofrsf_program_booklet_

2018

2016

2018

THEME: Honoring Our People

Featured George Wylie Henderson, Jr. Harlem Renaissance Author & Warrior Stand native

Booklet Cover image by

by Lowell Leroy Balcolm, Illustrator for Ollie Miss 1935

HEAR PODCAST about Henderson at https://soundcloud.com/user-138845008/authors-we-call-our-own-part-1?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

2022

2018

THEME: Homecoming: One Road Tells Many Stories

Booklet Cover by Pascale Adekpui

WATCH VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS at

https://youtu.be/owR79-M7Ysk?si=DC1PT6csXv_DIR-t

VIEW BOOKLET at https://issuu.com/trmcap/docs/2022_ofr_storytellingfestival_booklet_final_

2023

THEME: When Freedom Came

Booklet Cover - composition of public domain and AI images

VIEW BOOKLET at https://issuu.com/trmcap/docs/2023_old_federal_road_storytelling_festival_bookle

2024

THEME: Celebrating Harmony of History, Culture, and the Natural World

Booklet cover by Johanna Robinson

VIEW BOOKLET at https://issuu.com/trmcap/docs/2024_old_federal_rd._storytelling_festival_commemo

Frequently Asked Questions - Storytelling Festival

Please reach us at contact@digtheridge.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.

Why is it important to commemorate Federal Road history with a storytelling festival?

The Federal Road is at the center of a story of cultural evolution and the complex history of national security and westward expansion that goes back to prehistoric times when indigenous peoples first occupied present-day Alabama.

Are there any other commemorations of the Federal Road?

Alabama school children learn about the Federal Road when they study Alabama history. Books that commemorate the Federal Road include The Federal Road Through Georgia, the Creek Nation, and Alabama, 1806-1836, (Brown and Sutherland), The Old Federal Road in Alabama: An Illustrated Guide (Braund, Waselkov, and Christopher), The Very Worst Road (Benton), and Nine Days Traveling: Lafayette’s 1825 Alabama Tour Today’s Historical Road Trip (Krumenaker).

What makes the Old Federal Road Storytelling Festival special?

The Ridge Project builds on the well-deserved attention that books and school curriculum give the Federal Road. We combine history, arts and culture, and entertainment to present the story in an enjoyable way that appeals to a broad audience, that highlights the significance of an important, but sometimes forgotten historic road and region, and to counteract erasure of the memory of early Alabama indigenous peoples, the Muscogee Nation, and the multiethnic groups of Federal Road travelers, and their present-day descendants. The festival brings people together in a social setting to learn and to share.

What are some historic events that happened on or near the Federal Road in this area and who are some notable people who travelled on the Federal Road in the area?

The Federal Road through Alabama coincided with a major hunting and trading path that indigenous peoples established and used actively well before and during the American colonial period. Big Warrior, an important chief of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation operated several stagecoach taverns at Fort Bainbridge (today Boromville), and at Warrior Stand. While under arrest, Vice President Aaron Burr travelled on what would become the Federal Road. The celebrated French general the Marquis de Lafayette travelled on the Federal Road through Alabama in 1825 during his famous tour of the United States.

What are some other historic events and sites in the area?

The Armstrong School and St. Paul Church

The Creek Stand AME Zion Cemetery

Sweet Pilgrim Cemetery

Warrior Stand Cemeter

Macon County Training School and Community Historic District

Fort Hull

Fort Bainbridge

United States Public Health Service Syphilis Study

Wilson’s Raid

United States Colored Troops Infantry 136th, 137th, and 138th regiments