Two things to celebrate about The Connecticut Storytelling Center's Storytelling Festival and Conference this weekend:

It's the first in-person fest in two years (to blame, of course, is the pandemic).

And it's the first time the event will be held in downtown New London.

The Connecticut Storytelling Center moved from the Connecticut College Campus to the Thames Club. The center states that the move "has allowed the Center to better connect and collaborate with local arts organizations, and they are delighted that performances and workshops will be held at the Garde Arts Center, the Hygienic Art Park, the Public Library, and within the Thames Club, itself."

As for the festival, it boasts headliner Bill Harley, who has earned raves from The Washington Post. While the fest is aimed mostly at adults, Harley offers a family-friendly event at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Garde; tickets are $10 per family.

Diane Edgecomb's presentation, meanwhile, details her effort to document the vanishing folkloric tales of the Kurds of Turkey. That's at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Garde; tickets are $25, $12.50 for students.

There's lots more; visit the center's website for info on all the performers and events.

Connecticut Storytelling Festival & Conference, Fri. and Sat., downtown New London; for a full schedule, visit www.ConnStoryCenter.org.