The Corn Island Storytelling Festival, named after Louisvilleâs first settlement, was for 30 years a nationally known autumn fixture in Louisville. Founded by Lee & Joy Pennington in 1976, Corn Island was the 2nd oldest Festival of its kind in the US before ending its run in 2007. In 2012 with funding from Louisville Metro Government and donations from several University departments including; the African American Theater Project, Security, Marketing, Facilities, Student Activities and the Library, the Festival had its revival on the U of L campus. Well over a thousand people attended the event and firmly re-established it as an annual occurrence.