PORT ANGELES — The lies will come thick and fast. And the juiciest ones will win their tellers some used trophies.
That’s the truth about the second annual Liars’ Contest. Also true: Now is the time to enter, even if the event won’t happen until 7 p.m. June 7.
The contest is first-come, first-served, said Pat Ferris, an organizer and member of the Story People of Clallam County.
Only about 10 tellers will be accepted, since the program must stay under two hours.
The Story People are hosting the Liars’ Contest for the second consecutive year — and they know, as Shakespeare said, that “brevity is the soul of wit.”
Each tall-tale teller will be judged on creativity, quality of delivery, stage presence and audience response, Ferris explained.
Bob Grattan, owner of the Bushwhacker in Port Angeles, and Josephine Pedersen, the Story People’s founding mother, will serve as judges of the lie-off, which will be open to the public at the Sons of Norway Hall, 131 W. Fifth St.
Admission to the Liars’ Contest will be a $10 donation, since the event is a fundraiser for the 19th Forest Storytelling Festival to come to Peninsula College on Oct. 18-20.
The Story People, a nonprofit organization, brings storytellers from across the nation to the festival each year.
At the inaugural Liars’ Contest last year, Josh McLean of Port Angeles took the top prize with his tale of leaving a backpack on a mountaintop — and then having it returned to him by a gracious monster.
The second-place winner, Bob Nuffer of Sequim, delivered a whopper about mosquitoes growing larger and larger until they lifted a man and hauled him away.
Then there was the third-place tale, Brian Pettyjohn’s yarn about a boy living with a screw in his navel.
“The top three winners get downright incredible recycled trophies,” said Ferris, adding that she and the Story People find the trophies at Goodwill.
To enter the Liars’ Contest or find out more, phone Ferris at 360-504-2143 or email Liarcontest@gmail.com.
Features Editor Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5062, or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.
