THE STORYTELLERS FROM THE 2009 FESTIVAL ARE PICTURED IN YOSEMITE FOLLOWING THE FESTIVAL. PHOTO COURTESY OF MCACI Mariposa will be the place to find family entertainment that guarantees laughter and possibly a tear or two, vivacious stage presence and comic sensibility. According to local lodging industry officials, it will also be a bustling weekend for business.

Audiences can find themselves transported to a Civil War battlefield, or the magical world of a mime, and also meet fanciful characters from fables, myths and folk tales. The Mariposa County Arts Council’s 23rd Mariposa Storytelling Festival which runs March 12 through 14, promises all that for adults and children.

Mariposa County Arts Council Director Donna Brownell said that while final numbers aren’t available, many local hotels are filling with festival visitors. Mariposa Lodge is sold out, and dozens of other rooms at local hotels are booked. River Rock Inn has also been booked for months, mostly with festival returners.

Owner Vicki Lorenzi is thrilled about the weekend rush. “This is the kick-off of our season,” she said of the festival. “This is going to be great for everyone. This is the best time of the year. It’s like Christmas for us after two dry months.”

The festivities begin on Thursday night, March 11, when the “History Alive!” program takes place at the Mariposa Museum and History Center at 6, 7 and 8 p.m. The new program features local historical characters in Gold Rush era costume.

Participants can join storylisteners from every corner of California, and across the nation, as they gather in Mariposa for a magical weekend mesmerized by the voices of six internationally-known storytellers while basking in the history of the Gold Rush and the beauty of Yosemite National Park. Friday and Saturday events take place in Mariposa County High School, Sunday’s Storytelling performances continue in the Park Service, East Auditorium, at the Visitor’s Center in Yosemite National Park.

On Friday, March 12, the festival’s opening performances take place from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at Mariposa County High School. Each of the six featured tellers will perform. The doors open at 6 p.m.

Saturday’s daytime performances take place from 9 a.m. to 4:20 p.m. at MCHS. The finale concert is on Saturday night from 7 to 9:30 p.m.

There is even an open mike event on Saturday, when festival goers can use the lunch break to “story swap” their own tales.

On Sunday, the festival moves into Yosemite National Park. The final curtain falls on the 23rd festival at the Park Service auditorium from 2:30 to 4:40 p.m. All six tellers will take part in the finale.

To purchase tickets call 966- 3155, (800) 903-9936, or go to www.arts-mariposa.org to download a registration form and schedule of events. Ticket prices vary, but a festival pass for all Friday and Saturday events is $72 for general admission. Other performances can be purchased separately for $4 to $28, depending on the concert. All children are admitted free to Saturday’s Children’s Concert.