WINTRY WORDS. City of Eau Claire Writer-in-Residence Ken Szymanski will be one of the storytellers at the annual "Joy to the Word" event Dec. 16.

This year’s annual “Joy to the Word” event brings together five storytellers and some holiday tune makers – live and in-person – to share wintry tales and songs on Thursday, Dec. 16, from 7 to 8:30pm at the Pablo Center at the Confluence, 128 Graham Ave.

Featured storytellers include City of Eau Claire Writer-in-Residence Ken Szymanski, author/mom/biz consultant Emily Twesme, UW-Eau Claire’s international immersion coordinator + geographer + more Jeff DeGrave, and a jointly told tale from Olga Diaz (who recently relocated from California to become UW-Eau Claire’s vice chancellor of equity, diversity, inclusion & student affairs) and her husband, Neal Griffin (an Eau Claire native and 25-year veteran of law enforcement in California turned best-selling crime fiction writer).

The Ukulele Klub of Eau Claire and DeLong Middle School English teacher Derick Black will mix the holly-jolly, ho-ho-ho, and sleigh bell music.

Last year’s “Joy to the Word” was virtual and streamed from the Pablo because of COVID-19, but the 2021 event is in-person. Tickets, which are $10, are available in advance at pablocenter.org.

Important note: This event has sold out in the past, so get your ticket soon. Learn more at cvwritersguild.org.