2025 saw another fantastic Lorefest event! This year, there was the return of the wrestling event, a night of folktales, songs, and dramatic storytelling, plus (of course) a ghost walk through Downtown Bryan, and the annual folklore symposium with a culminating performance of music, dance, and tales from India and Texas!
Day 01: the Return of Folklore Wrestling!
The week started off with a smack down! The students from Texas A&M got back in the ring with the professionals from Lions Pride Sports Productions to wield an amazing night of folklore character battles and outstanding storytelling through high flying action!
Day 02: Folktales and Sonic Adventures!
The second day lead festival goers to the Icehouse on Main Street in Downtown Bryan, where student bedazzled the audience with tales of strange happenings and songs of legends and magic. The audience also were able to imbibe in the folklore-themed cocktails (virgin and otherwise) as part of the evenings entertainment, as well as play video games designed by TAMU VIST students, before the evening’s crowning event of the TAMU MUSC video game ensemble, performing new works by students along side themes from lore-filled video games.
Day 03: Bryan Ghost Walk!
The tradition of walking the haunted streets of Downtown Bryan has been established and this year it was embraced with great fervor! Hostess Dr. Kathy Torabi led the audience through the stations of storytelling students, inviting the crowd to bask in the moonlight whilst they reveled in the tales of ghostly happening right here in their own home town! The trail of tales led the walkers to the Parker-Astin Gallery, where more stories, drinks, food, and games, all based on student’s folklore research, awaited them!
Day 04: Folklore Symposium!
This symposium was exceptionally special this year, with a wide variety of scholarly and creative works displayed and discussed, all surrounding the event’s keynote speakers, the cast from the EVP Podcast (Everything Vaguely Paranormal…)
Day 04: Indian Folktales and Music!
The final event at this year’s Lorefest was a fabulous presentation of experimental music, Indian classical Carnatic flute and dance, supporting a series of tales of Hindi traditions! Returning artists Black Magic Cyborg (electronics and homemade instruments) and Chi. Srikar Satish (flute) filled the air with the sounds of magic as Kam. Varsha Vasu portrayed the stories through movement, and Tania Kumar and Rhiya Narayandas narrated the tales between visuals. Lighting designed and operated by Divine Efiok.
