Fall Brings Native American Events to Oklahoma

Oklahoma’s rich Native American heritage originates from the 67 tribal nations who have called this land home. As fall ushers in the start of cooler temperatures, gorgeous foliage and a vibrant event season, you can look forward to a number of time-honored events. From intertribal powwows to Native American cuisine these celebrations keep the traditions of Oklahoma’s Native American ancestors alive.

A popular send-off to summer, the Choctaw Nation Labor Day Festival & Powwow is an impressive showcase of Choctaw Nation traditions. This event features everything from traditional dances to concerts featuring well-known names in country music. Watch as Miss Choctaw Nation is crowned at the Choctaw Princess Pageant, learn to make dolls from cornhusks, and witness the intense competition of the annual stickball tournament.

Visitors to the annual Choctaw Nation Labor Day Festival are also invited to take tours of the Choctaw Nation Museum. Make sure to attend the intertribal powwow and admire the vibrant regalia of the American Indian dancers during the gourd dance, grand entry and dance competitions. The men and boys compete in dance categories including straight, traditional, grass and fancy dance, while the women and girls compete in cloth, buckskin, jingle dress and fancy shawl dance categories.

Experience the rich flavors of Native American cuisine at the Hominy Indigenous Heritage Day & Meat Pie Contest. This day of fun in Hominy welcomes visitors to bring family, friends and their appetites to try a variety of meat pies. Cooks will compete for top honors in both traditional and nontraditional meat pie categories as well as a people's choice category.

The friendly competition doesn't stop there, however. Watch the Youth Native American Dancers Competition for an amazing demonstration of Indigenous dances and browse the Horsepower & Heritage Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show to see a variety of classic vehicles. There's plenty of fun for all ages, including bouncy houses, carnival games, craft and food vendors. Guests are also invited to enjoy free admission to the Historical Field Printing Museum.

The First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City is one of the top Native American attractions in the state. In the fall, the museum hosts their annual Indigenous Peoples Celebration which honors the 39 tribal nations and Indigenous communities that make up Oklahoma.

Spend the day exploring the museum campus and enjoy live performances, Indigenous sports and games, storytelling and hands-on activities like the chalk art mural contest. Sample delicious foods from food trucks and check out the community information booths. During the event, Oklahoma City Mayor and Osage Nation member David Holt will read a special Mayoral proclamation to those in attendance.

Immerse yourself in Cherokee heritage at the Cherokee National Holiday in Tahlequah. This event, a gathering of Native American families and communities, commemorates the signing of the Cherokee Constitution in 1839 following the Cherokee removal to Oklahoma. Open to the public and founded in 1953, this event has expanded to feature a juried art show, arts and crafts booths, a car show, and a competitive stickball game, among many other activities.

Don’t miss the intertribal powwow, a mix of traditional elements and other categories such as men’s Northern drum and women’s Cherokee tear dress. Check out the holiday parade to see the Cherokee Nation color guard, dancers and royalty, and stick around to sample a variety of Native dishes, such as fry bread and dessert dumplings. Bring the kids out to the festival where they can participate in events such as an exciting fishing derby.

The culture of the Chickasaw Nation comes alive during the Chickasaw Nation Annual Meeting & Festival, a week-long event held in south-central Oklahoma’s Chickasaw Country. Activities are scheduled throughout the week, but the main events roll out on the festival’s final Saturday. Start your day with the State of the Nation address, then head out to Pennington Park for a day of fun. The park fills with inflatables, a petting zoo and make-and-take tents, where children can play for hours. Arts and crafts vendors will showcase Native American arts and crafts, and a vast array of food will be available.

Visit the southeastern art show and market on the capitol grounds, and learn from cultural demonstrations. Watch the parade downtown and enjoy the spectacle of dancers in full regalia, floats decorated in Chickasaw style, tribal dignitaries and more. In nearby Sulphur, tour the Chickasaw Cultural Center, try a traditional Chickasaw meal in the Aaimpa Café and experience breathtaking cultural exhibits.

Visitors to the Comanche Nation Fair in Lawton will enjoy an array of festivities, from archery competitions and art shows, to bull riding and a rodeo. Children will have a blast at the free kid’s carnival, while adults can check out classic hot rods in the car show. Known as the largest American Indian event of southwest Oklahoma, the Comanche Nation Fair also invites festival-goers to check out popular sporting tournaments, traditional storytelling and a free concert. Observe a variety of dance contests in the powwow and take in the vivid colors of dancers decked out in regalia of feathers and elaborate beadwork as they compete in categories from Tiny Tots to Golden Age.

Held at Adawe Park, all ages will have a great time at the activity-packed Ottawa Powwow & Celebration in Miami. By camping out in a tent or RV, guests can also enjoy a whole weekend full of different dances, from the gourd and stomp dances to the intertribal war dance. Ottawa tribal members will also perform the turkey dance after demonstrating how to play a traditional hand game. Other highlights of this celebratory weekend include the fierce Indian Junior Olympics as well as plenty of singing. The public is also welcome to come on down to sample authentic Indian cuisine from the concessions and purchase handcrafted gifts and artwork from Indian traders on site.

Learn about the art, traditions and etiquette of the powwow by reading Understanding the Powwow.