The Festival Internacional de Cuenteros (International Storytelling Festival) begins on Friday, drawing participants from Nicaragua, Colombia, Mexico, Spain, Japan and Mali to the city of Alajuela, Costa Rica, to share their talents with avid listeners.

While all stories will be told in Spanish, the event will be focusing on interactive forms of storytelling that involve audiences and transcend language barriers. Stories began yesterday with a session devoted to scary stories and the event will continue through November 13 with over 60 presentations and workshops. All story events are free and kid-friendly; for a detailed programme, see the Facebook page for the Museo Histórico Cultural Juan Santamaría. Read more: ticotimes.net