Tales from the Trails 2026

Back for the fourth year, we will be hosting our Tales from the Trails storytelling event Sunday July 12th, 11:00am at Sketchbook Brewery in Skokie. We welcome stories from novice and experienced story tellers. If you have something you would like to share, see the schedule and guidelines below.

“Tales from the Trails” features original stories of real life experiences riding a bicycle or inspired by cycling. We have been fortunate to feature amazing stories from novice to experienced storytellers, (and novice to experience cyclists). We welcome anyone who has a story to tell to submit it for consideration.

We will formally invite submissions April 1, 2026 but welcome inquiries and suggestions anytime. You can contact us at skokiebikenet at gmail dot com.

For a sense of the event and sampling of the stories, you can view recordings of the prior year’s events on YouTube – Tales from the Trails 2025, Tales from the Trails 2024

Submission Guidelines

  • We are calling for submissions of short personal narratives of no longer than 1000 words (7-8 minutes, max) that may include a song, or a poem relating to, or inspired by your personal experience with bicycling.
  • We ask that your work be original and true to the best of your memory (with some room for creative license if it remains true to the meaning and substance of your account).
  • Your story, poem or song will be presented by you – live – at the Sketchbook Tap Room & Brewery in Skokie Sunday July 12th between 11 am and 1 pm. Whether this is your first attempt at telling a story or you are seasoned pro, you are encouraged to submit and participate.
  • This is intended to be a positive event for storytellers and the audience. Language should be family friendly – PG-13. While we welcome accounts and reflections on life’s difficulties and struggles, we encourage humility and humor.

Schedule and Key Dates

  • April 1, 2026 – Open for submissions of stories
  • June 1, 2026 – Submissions Due
  • June 15, 2026 – Lineup announced
  • July 12, 2026 – Show Time

Thank you for your interest in Tales from the Trails. We look forward to hearing your story or just being there to share in the fun and festivities.

Be well, live well, ride on.

Skokie Bike Network.