Press release from Visit Cherokee:
When strong personal, familial and spiritual traditions are paired with a healthy dose of competition, the 38th annual Cherokee Powwow ignites a three-day festival of drum, song and dance to kick off the summer season in Cherokee. Hundreds of powwow dancers, including several world champions, will compete for thousands of dollars in prizes at the Acquoni Expo Center, June 14-16, 2013. Visitors can watch the near-fireworks onstage in the Traditional, Fancy Shawl, Grass, Two Step, Jingle and the Daniel French Memorial dance competitions.
“Powwows are hugely popular social gatherings within Native communities that feature authentic Indian competitive dancing, drumming and tribal regalia,” said Howard Wahneta, events manager for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. “Visitors to Cherokee’s powwow will experience a colorful expression of energy and reverence as people of all ages from across the country gather to watch and participate. It’s a sight to behold, and there’s nothing like it in North Carolina.”
Craft vendors from across the country will offer of a variety of handmade treasures for sale. On-site food vendors will have various menu items from burgers, fry bread, meat pies, roasted corn, snow cones and a variety of cold beverages. There will be plenty of free parking and stadium seating, and visitors are encouraged to bring a lawn chair. Coolers and pets are not permitted. During the two-hour dinner break for the dancers on Saturday evening, Cherokee entertainers will perform flute music, traditional dancing and storytelling.
Gates open at 6 p.m. Friday, and noon on Saturday and Sunday. Daily admission is $10 per person, and three-day passes are available for $25. Children under 6 are free. Grand entries start at 7 p.m. on Friday, 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, and 1 p.m. on Sunday. The Acquoni Expo Center is located at 1501 Acquoni Road in Cherokee. Tickets may be purchased in advance on at visitcherokeenc.com or at the gate.
About Cherokee, N.C.
Adventure and fun, wrapped in authentic Cherokee culture, are brought to life on the Qualla Boundary, the original homeland of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Cherokee, N.C., offers activities, packages and itineraries that make visiting an affordable pleasure for all ages and interests. Enjoy cultural festivals and attractions, bonfires, camping, tubing, hiking, wading, kayaking, biking, birding, waterfalls, water mills, a pioneer village, art galleries and shops, hotels and motor lodges, family fun parks, petting zoos, more than 30 miles of untamed trout waters, and Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort. For more information about Cherokee, N.C., go to www.visitcherokeenc.com or call 800-438-1601.
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