While summer traditionally marks the end of the festival season in many parts of the country, in the territory, the events just keep going, with the Yukon International Storytelling Festival set for this weekend at the Yukon Arts Centre.

"I hope people will be surprised and enjoy (the performances)," festival organizer Sid Noormohamed said in an interview this morning.

This year marks the 21st anniversary of the festival. The event sees storytellers come from across the country and around the world to share their tales along with many local performers who will take to the stage over the weekend.

In the past, the festival has been held in the summer season, often in June, with the 2007 edition happening over the Discovery Days long weekend in August.

That changed this year, with organizers opting to host it at a time when more Yukoners are in the city to attend, Noormohamed explained.

Another major change to the festival came last year when it was moved inside to the Yukon Arts Centre.

It had previously been held in Rotary Peace Park or Shipyards Park depending on the year. Having it held in the arts centre proved easier, since organizers don't have to put up and take down tents and such, he said. High winds at Rotary Peace Park blew down part of a tent and disrupted the festival one year.

Among the 16 people set to take to the stage at the arts centre are local talents ranging from Arlin McFarlane, a director, short filmmaker and storyteller; to musical talent Fishhead

Stew to traditional storyteller Sharon Shorty, among others.

Half the lineup is comprised of local performers, while seven will come from across the country. New York-based Laura Simms will make up the international component of this year's three-day event.

As her biography on the festival website (www.storytelling.yk.net) notes, Simms is a storyteller, teacher, recording artist and humanitarian who uses a traditional storytelling form combined with her personal experiences for adult and family audiences.

Nationally, Noormohamed said, the festival is pleased to welcome back Ache Brasil, a group of Brazilian performers from Vancouver who brought their dance and music to the festival in 2005.

A familiar face will also return to the territory, with Ivan Coyote taking to the stage.

The author and performer, now based in Ontario, was born and raised in Whitehorse before leaving the territory.

Currently working on her second novel, Coyote just wrapped up an eight-month stint as the writer-in-residence at Carleton University in Ottawa.

While the festival starts at 9:30 a.m. Friday, performances through the day will be for students only, with doors opening to the public at 6 p.m. and performances running until midnight.

Saturday's and Sunday's events will also get underway at 6 p.m. and continue until 12:15 a.m.

Weekend passes and tickets are available at the arts centre box office or Arts Underground beneath the Hougen Centre on Main Street.