Festival of Native Peoples, Cherokee Indian Art Market, Pow wow

Festival of Native Peoples and Cherokee Indian Art Market: July 13-14, 2012

(Read about Cherokee Pow Wow)

In Cherokee, North Carolina, near Asheville, is an annual gathering of tribes from throughout the Americas takes its rightful place as the finest showcase of native dance, art, and culture in the southeast. Indigenous tribes from across the Americas gather for the Festival of Native Peoples. 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.

Among the dancing, singing, prayers and art exhibited, highlights of the festival include the Halau Palaihiwa O Kaipuwai group's ancient Hawaiian hula and drum dances, once a mainstay of Hawaii's ancient temples. The Totonac pole flyers of Mexico are back and will once again fly from a ninety-foot pole in a spectacle of swirling color in honor of the sun and Totonac calendar. Additional performers include the Inca Son band, playing the centuries-old music of the Peruvian Andes, the Cellicion Traditional Zuni Dancers of New Mexico, Git Hoan Dancers of northern British Columbia, the Apache Crown Dancers of Arizona, as well as the Cherokee Warriors of AniKituhwa and Raven Rock Dancers.

The festival will also play host to one of the southeast’s largest Native American art markets. The Cherokee Indian Art Market will feature over fifty nationally recognized, juried craftspeople and artisans from around the country displaying and selling their handmade traditional and contemporary works of art ranging in price from $10 to tens of thousands of dollars. Artists will also demonstrate techniques passed down from generation to generation.

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 Friday at 1 p.m. and Saturday at 11 a.m. with performances throughout the day and into the evening. Art market opens at 9 a.m. Admission. For Discount Ticket Packages or more information, call 800.438.1601. www.cherokee-nc.com

The Cherokee Indian Fair Grounds is at 745 Tsali Blvd., off U.S. 441 in Cherokee.

Cherokee is just 52 miles from Asheville via I-40 West to Exit 27, then U.S. 19 to U.S. 441 in Cherokee (Just over an hour's drive).
Download a PDF map of Cherokee.

Pow Wow at Cherokee: June 29-30, 2012

Experience authentic Indian dancing, drumming and tribal regalia. Dance competitions kick the excitement up even higher. Dancing with the Stars has nothing on a competition Pow wow. When strong personal, familial, and spiritual traditions are paired with a healthy dose of competition, the Cherokee Pow wow is a festival of drum, song and dance. Hundreds of world-champion dancers compete for thousands of dollars in prizes. Watch the Traditional, Fancy Shawl, Grass, Two Step, Jingle and the Daniel French Memorial dance competitions. Craft vendors from across the country will be on site and offer of a variety of items. Food vendors offer burgers, fry bread, meat pies, roasted corn, snow cones, and a variety of cold beverages. Held at the Acquoni Expo Center (1501 Acquoni Road).