The tales spun by the latest storyteller to visit The Grand Old City during this year’s Dogwood Fine Arts Festival will have a decidedly historical, and southern, flavor to them.

Festival organizers have announced that Kentucky native Tim Lowry will be the featured storyteller during this year’s edition of the week-plus long celebration of the humanities, which begins May 8.

As with previous storytellers, Lowry will be hosting a family-friendly show at Southern Michigan College’s Dale A. Lyons Building theater at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13, as well as master class workshop from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Cass County COA Front Street Crossing building on May 12.

Residing in Summerville, South Carolina, Lowry has been telling stories “of the people, by the people, and for the people” for 15 years, learning the art form from people residing in the Appalachians, where he was raised. A graduate of theater school and a former educator, Lowry’s tales are focused primarily on the South Carolina countryside, with folk tales and ghost stories focused on days long passed.

“His stories are just so captivating, which is what drew us to him so much,” said Jennifer Ray, chair of the festival’s storytelling committee. “His stories have a combination of history and humor, and he has one real touching tales.”

Ray was first introduced to the award winning storyteller’s work several years ago, while she and her husband were visiting the National Storytelling Festival, which takes place every year in Jonesborough, Tennessee. They came away from his show impressed with the way he made the history of his home region come to life, she said.

“You’ll sometimes be falling out of your seat with laughter, and the next minute you’ll have a tear in your eye,” Ray said. “I don’t think anyone will walk away disappointed with Tim’s stories.”

In addition to his show at the college and the workshop, Lowry will be visiting local classrooms during his visit to Dowagiac.

Lowry joins previously announced Gary Shteyngart, this year’s featured author, and Melissa Manchester, featured musician, as the top headliners of the 2015 Dogwood Festival. Storytellers have been a major part of the annual festivities since 1994, with Diane Ferlatte being the first such artist invited to the city.

“There’s a universal meaning to their unique stories,” Ray said. “They may come from personal experiences, but they’re capable of touching us all.”

Once again sponsoring the annual event is Securit Metal Products, which has supported the storyteller’s portion of the event for the last 18 years. Due to their support, tickets to the family performance will only cost $6.

With Lowry’s combination of humor and pathos, audiences of all ages should take something away from his performances next month, Ray said.