Miami Children's Storytelling Festival 2026
In its fourth edition, the Miami Children’s Storytelling Festival 2026, created by IMAGO POR LAS ARTES, celebrates the power of oral storytelling as a living form of artistic creation and cultural expression. This program brings together children ages 8 to 13 with Hispanic roots, who create and tell original stories in Spanish, fully developed by them through a creative process that integrates art, language, and performance. The goal is to preserve the oral tradition as an essential part of our cultural heritage while fostering imagination, artistic sensitivity, and each participant’s unique voice.
Throughout the program, children learn how to create their own stories from scratch: imagining the narrative, writing it, illustrating it, and building the elements that bring it to life. Through different artistic techniques, they transform their stories into visual and sensory experiences, exploring materials, colors, textures, and forms as part of their narrative language. Art does not accompany the story—it is part of the story.
In addition to creating their stories, participants learn tools for oral storytelling and dramatized performance, developing skills to present their own stories to an audience. Through gesture, voice, body movement, and staging, each child becomes the storyteller of their own creation. This process strengthens confidence, verbal expression, and the ability to communicate ideas and emotions with clarity and sensitivity.
The program culminates in a community-wide showcase, where children present their stories through dramatized storytelling, accompanied by the artistic elements they created themselves. This gathering celebrates children’s creativity, cultural diversity, and the value of storytelling as a collective and transformative act.
The Miami Children’s Storytelling Festival 2026 is made possible thanks to the collaboration between IMAGO POR LAS ARTES and IMAGO, with the generous support of Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Florida.
Details
Where: IMAGO (4028 SW 57th Ave, Miami, FL 33155).
When: Every Saturday from 12 pm to 3 pm
Duration: 12 weeks
Format: In-person sessions every Saturday afternoon at the scheduled time for each workshop
Start Date: Saturday, January 24, 2026
End Date: Sunday, April 19, 2026
One-Time Enrollment Fee: $125 per child (Non refundable fee. Includes three months of workshops, materials, and the child’s final presentation)
Final presentation: Sunday, April 19, 2026, at Adriana Barraza Acting Studio (3100 NW 72nd Ave #127, Miami, FL 33122)
A 6 stages program
Introduction:
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Group meet up and expectations (individuals and as a group) set up
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Date: Saturday, January 24, 2026
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Start Time: 12:00 p.m.
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Parents are invited to attend the first hour of the session
Stage 1: Opening the Path to Imagination
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THEATER WORKSHOP: In this stage, children will explore ideas to create their stories while learning dramatization and theater techniques to bring them to life.
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Dates: Saturdays, January 24 & 31, and February 7, 2026
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Start Time: 12:00 p.m.
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Facilitators: Saul Mauricio & Mónica Quintero
Stage 2: My Story in Words
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WRITING WORKSHOP: Using paper and pencil, participants will experiment with storytelling fundamentals to write a short story with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
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Dates: Saturdays, February 7, 14, 21, and 28, 2026
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Start Time: 12:00 p.m.
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Facilitator: Trina Oropeza
Stage 3: My Story in Images
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ILLUSTRATION WORKSHOP: Here, art takes center stage. Each child will illustrate their story using a specific illustration technique to visually express their narrative.
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Dates: Saturdays, February 28; March 7, 14, and 21, 2026
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Start Time: 12:00 p.m.
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Facilitator: Trina Oropeza
Stage 4: Bringing My Story to Life
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DRAMATIZATION WORKSHOP: This stage focuses on designing the scenic elements that will accompany the final presentation. Inspired by their illustrations, participants will craft props while continuing to refine their theater and dramatized storytelling techniques to prepare for their performance.
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Dates: Saturdays, February 7, 14, 21, and 28; March 7, 14, and 21, 2026
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Start Time: 12:00 p.m.
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Facilitators: Saúl Mauricio y Mónica Quintero
Stage 5: Almost ready!
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GENERAL REHEARSALS IN THE THEATER: These rehearsals serve as a dress rehearsal before the big day. It will take place at the theater venue where the festival will be held.
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Dates: TBD (Two rehearsals will take place in the theater)
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Start Time: TBD
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Facilitators: Saúl Mauricio y Mónica Quintero
Stage 6: Showtime!
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The grand finale! All the children will perform their stories, complete with their scenic elements, on a theater stage in front of a live audience.
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Date: Sunday, April 19, 2026
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Start Time: 4:00 p.m.
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Facilitators: Saúl Mauricio y Mónica Quintero
The final performance and general rehearsals will take place at the NJB Cultural Center in Doral. Should there be any change of venue, families will be notified in advance.
Registration & Payment
To formalize your child’s participation in this edition of the Miami Children’s Storytelling Festival, once you complete the payment, please return to this page to fill out the registration form (button below). You will need to enter the order number you received in a confirmation email after your payment has been processed.
If you have any questions, you can email us at contact@imagoporlasartes.org and/or trinaoropeza@gmail.com or give us a call at 954-404-3584
