JAMES CITY COUNTY — Songs and tales of liberty will soon fill the woods of Freedom Park.
Freedom Park will host Williamsburg storyteller Dylan Pritchett at its fifth Freedom Stories event from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 23.
The free program will feature stories about freedom, as well as historical African and African-American stories told by Pritchett and Alexandria-based storyteller Baba Jamal Koram.
For Pritchett, 59, the event brings the opportunity to teach both children and adults about African-American storytelling traditions.
“The whole purpose of a story is to teach a lesson,” Pritchett said. “Whether it’s a lesson that deals about history, or to to help someone think about some of the values that the people of the past have had and how we need them today.”
Additional events at the program include a drum circle, music, arts and crafts for children, as well as food available for purchase from Corey’s Country Kitchen, according to James City County Parks and Recreation Program Coordinator Kelley Herbert.
“In its fifth year, we are again excited to offer this event featuring storytelling from Dylan Pritchett about the unique history of Freedom Park and the local Williamsburg area,” Herbert said.
Freedom Park has roots in James City County since the 1650s, and it eventually served as the location for one of the first free black settlements in Virginia, according to the James City County Parks and Recreation website.
The 600-acre park features 20 miles of mountain biking trails, a ropes course and the Williamsburg Botanical Garden. For more information on Freedom Park, call 757-259-4022.
