The featured storytellers are often professional performing artists, but semi-professional or amateur storytellers may also be included among the events.
A festival may be a single or multiple day event.
Depending upon the venue, the festival schedule is organized around blocks of time for the storytellers to share their stories.
Often storytelling festivals will include an open mic event, sometimes referred to as "story swapping," where amateurs from the audience may share their own stories.
These swatches of cloth have a different/unique pattern each year and various colors may be used to distinguish the level of participation.