PORT ANGELES — Momma never said to tell a lie, unless there is money at stake, or so it might seem during the fifth annual Liars Contest taking place from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday at the Port Angeles Main Library, 2210 S. Peabody St.
The event is produced by The Story People, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that promotes storytelling on the North Olympic Peninsula.
Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for Story People members and $5 for those younger than 16.
During the contest, storytellers from around the Pacific Northwest will compete for cash prizes and bragging rights, with a panel of judges deciding just who tells the biggest whopper, organizers said.
Also up for grabs are the second- and third-place positions, with the audience weighing in on the People’s Choice Award.
The first-place liar will win $100, second place $50 and third place $25.
The judges panel includes Chris Wright, Director for the Forest Storytelling Festival.
Champion liar and local storyteller, Ingrid Nixon, is coordinating the event and will serve as emcee.
“In 2014, I was the champion liar and earned the Golden Pitchfork, which I think is the most useful trophy ever,” Nixon said.
“Of course, the pitchfork is a play on the hooey that the tellers share with the audience members who seem to enjoy it the deeper it gets.”
The audience members also will get an opportunity to fib by sharing their untruths anonymously.
Proceeds will support the 22nd annual Forest Storytelling Festival slated for Oct. 14 through 16 at Peninsula College.
Josephine Pederson, Elaine Grinnell and Elsa Johnson co-founded The Story People in the mid-1990s to promote the art of storytelling on the Olympic Peninsula.
The first Forest Storytelling Festival took place in 1995, and has grown and remained popular ever since.
For more information, visit www.clallamstorypeople.org.
