Look Up and Listen

Stories beneath the stars

One magical night. Eighty years in the making.

Celebrate 80 years of WFDD with an unforgettable evening under the stars. Join us lakeside at YMCA Camp Hanes for live, spooky — but family-friendly — stories from Liz Z. Pardue and Dan Sellers of Carolina Haints.

Enjoy dinner from local food trucks, gather around the fire for s’mores, and look to the skies with the Forsyth Astronomical Society. Bring a blanket or chairs, settle in, and help us celebrate with great stories, good company and a little nighttime magic.

Rain date: Saturday, November 7

Stories that go Bump in the Night

Meet the storytellers

Visit Liz’s Website

Liz Z. Pardue

Liz Z Pardue is an award-winning storyteller, writer, and director from North Carolina, where she has spent nearly 40 years collecting, preserving, and sharing the region's lore; both its regional history and her own lived experience.

Her various creative works have appeared in Atlas Obscura, TIME, Strange Carolinas, and on stages across the globe. She has performed in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and, in 2025, she won the Linda Goodman New Voices Award and the People's Choice Award at the Stone Soup Storytelling Festival.

In 2023, she founded her production company Sisterhood of Spirits, creating ghost tours, theatrical productions, and the Fuquay-Varina Ghosts, Legends, and Lore book series. She is currently touring North Carolina with her "Keep NC Weird" and "Tarheel Terrors" speaking series across the Old North State.

Listen to Carolina Haints

Dan Sellers

Dan Sellers is a storyteller and the founder of Carolina Haints, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting folklore storytelling throughout the Carolinas. He is also the host and producer of The Carolina Haints Podcast.

Dan co-authored Carolina Haints: Ghosts, Folklore and Mysteries of the Old North State with Jeffrey Cochran. He is also the author of Haunted High Point and the upcoming Folk: A Collection of Curious Lore from the Carolinas.

In addition to storytelling and writing, Dan has produced numerous award-winning short and feature films through Wreak Havoc Productions. He is a member of the North Carolina Storytelling Guild and regularly travels the state sharing spooky tales with audiences.

Registration

Save your place under the stars

Register yourself first, then add everyone else in your party as a guest. Cvent will ask you to select an Adult or Children’s Ticket for each person.

Early-bird adult admission

$20

Available through September 18
Children 12 and under are free

Regular pricing begins September 19.

How registration works

Count your guests

Tell us how many additional people you are registering. Do not include yourself in the guest total.
Choose each ticket

Select an Adult or Children’s Ticket for yourself and each guest. Children 12 and under attend free with a ticketed adult.
Review and pay

One purchaser can complete registration for the entire party.

Registration and payment are processed securely by Cvent.

Plan your evening

What to know before you go

Bring a seat

Pack blankets or chairs for the lakeside amphitheater, plus comfortable walking shoes for uneven terrain.

Come hungry

Purchase dinner from Frankly Delicious or West Coast Wanderer, then gather around the fire for s’mores.

Dress for nightfall

Temperatures can drop after sunset. Bring layers and a flashlight for the walk back to the parking area.

See Frequently Asked Questions

Community under the stars

Our partners and vendors

Look Up and Listen is made possible with help from the organizations and local businesses joining us at the lake.

Event sponsor

Great Outdoor Provision Co.

Thank you to Great Outdoor Provision Co. for supporting WFDD’s 80th anniversary celebrations and helping make this evening under the stars possible.

Visit Great Outdoor Provision Co.

Host venue

YMCA Camp Hanes

Our lakeside home for an evening of storytelling, stargazing and s’mores.

Visit Camp Hanes

Stargazing partner

Forsyth Astronomical Society

Society members will bring telescopes and help guide our exploration of the night sky.

Explore the night sky

Food vendor

Frankly Delicious

Stop by Frankly Delicious for a hot dog with all the fixings before settling in for the stories.

Follow Frankly Delicious

Food vendor

West Coast Wanderer

Enjoy West Coast-inspired flatbreads and tacos before the evening’s program begins. Vegetarian options available.

Follow West Coast Wanderer

Frequently asked questions

Before heading to the lake

What address should I use for GPS?

YMCA Camp Hanes
1225 Camp Hanes Road
King, NC 27021

Can I purchase tickets at the event?

Yes. Adult tickets will be available at the event for $25. Children 12 and under attend free with a ticketed adult.

The $20 early-bird adult price is available online through September 18.

Will food be available?

Yes. Frankly Delicious and West Coast Wanderer will be onsite with food available for purchase. You are also welcome to bring a picnic. WFDD will provide the s’mores.

What happens if it rains?

The rain date for this event is Saturday, November 7. Registered guests will receive updates by email if weather affects the event.

What is the terrain like, and is accessible parking available?

Camp Hanes has paved walkways leading toward the lake. There are steps into the amphitheater, and additional seating is located on a grassy hill.

A limited number of closer parking spaces may be available for guests with accessibility needs. Please contact Rachel Thomas at thomara@wfu.edu before the event to discuss accommodations.

What should I leave at home?

Camp rules prohibit dogs, drones, tobacco products, vaping products and alcohol.

What if I have another question?

Contact WFDD at wfddpublicradio@wfu.edu .