Live Storytelling from the Heart of Newburgh

Safe Harbors of the Hudson is proud to present StoryCON, a series of intimate nights of personal storytelling, each featuring six storytellers from Newburgh and the Hudson Valley.

Back for its second year, each StoryCON is hosted by a different professional storyteller and organized around a theme—from first loves to worst days ever to stories from Newburgh history. At the end of each night, audiences vote for their favorite story and the winning storyteller takes home a $100 cash prize. 

Storytellers participate in an afternoon workshop led by the host, who helps shape and rehearse their stories for performance that night. Each StoryCON also includes an open mic, during which audience members can sign up for the chance to share their story and bring home the gold.  

This year, StoryCON will culminate in the first weekend of October with a special partnership between Safe Harbors and renowned storytelling organization The Moth. The partnership will include a workshop and final sharing featuring StoryCON alumni and community members. 

Have a story to share? Please contact Ken Martinez for the opportunity to participate in StoryCON 2026: 845.784.1110 or kmartinez@safe-harbors.org

We’re calling this storytelling series StoryCON because “CON” is a shorthand that encompasses everything about the event: Convention, meaning a gathering of storytellers; Contest, because the winning storyteller will receive a $100 prize; and most importantly City of Newburgh, because this is a home-grown series and storytellers involved should be from the Newburgh area. Our goal is to create a platform for all voices and cultivate a community of diverse storytellers while building an audience that loves them.

Ken Martinez, Director of Performing Arts & Community Programming