Festival of Native Peoples

7/16/10 - 7/17/10
Cherokee Indian Fair Grounds
Contact: Cherokee Welcome Center - (800) 438-1601

Voted Top 20 Event by Southeast Tourism Society, 2009!

America Gets Back to its Roots at Most Significant Tribal Festival in the U.S.

Indigenous tribes from across the Americas gather for the sixth Annual Festival of Native Peoples this weekend at the Cherokee Indian Fair Grounds in Cherokee, N.C. Considered the finest showcase of native dance, song and art in the southeast, the event honors the collective history, customs and wisdom of some of the oldest documented tribes.

Program and Performers

Among the dancing, singing, prayers and art exhibited, festival highlights this year include the ever popular Totonac pole flyers of Mexico who thrilled audiences as they fly from a ninety-foot pole in a spectacle of swirling color in honor of the sun and the Totonac calendar. Four-time dance champion Tony Duncan of the Apache Arikara will perform the Hoop Dance. Additional performers include Tezcatlipoca Aztec Dancers from Mexico City, The Pollen Trail Navajo Dancers, the Yurapik Dance Group of Alazka, the Laguna Youth Group from the Laguna Pueblo, the White Mountain Apache Crown Dancers of Arizona, as well as the Crow and Cherokee’s Warriors of AniKituhwa and the Raven Rock Dancers.

Gates open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily with performances throughout the day. Art market opens at 9 a.m. Adult admission $10; children six and under are free. For Discount Ticket Packages or more information, call 800.438.1601.The Cherokee Indian Fair Grounds is located at 745 Tsali Blvd., off U.S. 441 in Cherokee.

Sponsored by the Cherokee Preservation Foundation and Food Lion. Present your Food Lion MVP card and get $2 off.

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JULY

4th Annual Cherokee Art Market: 7/2/10 - 7/4/10
July Powwow: 7/2/10 - 7/4/10
An Appalachain Evening featuring Paul's Creek Band: 7/3/10
July 4th Fireworks: 7/4/10
An Appalachain Evening featuring Lonesome River Band: 7/10/10
Dare Motorcycle Run: 7/10/10
Festival of Native Peoples : 7/16/10 - 7/17/10
An Appalachain Evening featuring Alice Gerrard with The Kari Sickenberger Band: 7/17/10
An Appalachain Evening featuring Dismembered Tennesseans: 7/24/10
An Appalachain Evening featuring Dehlia Low: 7/31/10
Handmade | Homemade | Homegrown: 7/31/10 - 9/25/10

AUGUST

Handmade | Homemade | Homegrown: 7/31/10 - 9/25/10
Wounded Knee Memorial Motorcyle Run : 8/6/10 - 8/7/10
9th Annual Talking Trees Children's Trout Derby: 8/7/10
An Appalachain Evening featuring The Kruger Brothers: 8/7/10
Volkswagen Car Show: 8/13/10 - 8/15/10
An Appalachain Evening featuring New North Carolina Ramblers: 8/14/10
An Appalachain Evening featuring The Jeff Little Trio: 8/21/10
58th Cherokee National Holiday Co-ed Softball Tournament: 8/27/10 - 8/29/10
An Appalachain Evening featuring Farewell Drifters: 8/28/10

SEPTEMBER

Handmade | Homemade | Homegrown: 7/31/10 - 9/25/10
Qualla Arts Open-Air Indian Art Market: 9/4/10 - 9/4/10
Cherokee Survivors Motorcycle Rally: 9/10/10 - 9/12/10
Southeastern Tribes Cultural Arts Celebration: 9/17/10 - 9/19/10

OCTOBER

98th Annual Cherokee Indian Fair: 10/5/10 - 10/9/10
Big Rigs Antique Truck Show: 10/15/10 - 10/16/10

NOVEMBER

Thanksgiving Day Feasts: 11/26/09
Cruise the Smokies - Fall Cherokee Rod Run: 11/5/10 - 11/7/10

DECEMBER

Area Holiday Festivities: 12/1/09 - 12/31/09
Cherokee Christmas Parade: 12/12/09
New Year’s Eve Fireworks: 12/31/09

MARCH

Cherokee KOA Fishing Tournament : 3/27/10
Ramp It Up! Festival: 3/27/10
Second Annual Vietnam Veterans Parade & Ceremony 2010: 3/27/10

APRIL

Cherokee Survivors Motorcycle Rally: 4/23/10 - 4/25/10

MAY

NAIWA Strawberry Festival: 5/1/10
Week of the Young Child: 5/3/10 - 5/7/10
Cherokee Visitor Appreciation Day: 5/6/10
Cruise the Smokies - Spring Cherokee Rod Run: 5/14/10 - 5/16/10
Cherokee Day of Caring: 5/20/10

JUNE

Gourd Festival: 6/3/10 - 6/5/10
Summerfest Carnival: 6/10/10 - 6/13/10
Summerfest Carnival: 6/16/10 - 6/19/10
Cherokee Bluegrass Festival: 6/17/10 - 6/20/10
4th Annual Housing Fair: 6/25/10 - 6/26/10
An Appalachain Evening featuring Balsam Range: 6/26/10