Events - Cherokee National Holiday

events

Sports. Arts. Film. Music. Dancing. Reunions. Traditions. Join in all the fun with friends and family. Enjoy an exciting variety of events during Cherokee National Holiday.

Cherokee Ambassadors

Cherokee Ambassadors are messengers and role models for Cherokee youth. They hone their leadership skills and build goodwill towards our nation at the Miss Cherokee, Jr. Miss Cherokee and Little Cherokee Ambassador competitions.

Community Games

Enjoy great competitive traditions across Cherokee Nation! Starting in April, qualifying tournaments for seven games are held every month until the Native Games Championship in August and Stickball Championship in September.

Food & Entertainment

Good food, good music, open doors, sharing our culture and family fun are at the heart of Cherokee National Holiday. Across One Fire Field, the Cherokee Nation Cultural Grounds and the Chota Conference Center, there are more than 200 vendors with arts, crafts, food, entertainment and artisan goods.

Inter-Tribal Powwow

The Inter-Tribal Powwow highlights Native American culture across the United States. Indigenous peoples gather from Nations across the country for dancing, singing, drumming, friendly competitions and honoring traditions.

Live Music

From local gems to national acts, music lovers can enjoy performances over two fantastic evenings at Dalalapalooza. Grab your blankets and lawn chairs, then unwind under the starlit sky.

Shows & Markets

Cherokee National Holiday offers an outstanding variety of authentic Native art, artisan gifts and memorabilia. Shows and markets you’ll find at Holiday include Cherokee Artisan Market, One Fire Field Marketplace, Cultural Grounds Marketplace and Cherokee Homecoming Art Show, as well as official art, quilt and car shows.

Sporting Events

Up for some friendly competition? Cherokee National Holiday fields unique events and tournaments for all to enjoy, including: Softball, 3-on-3 Basketball, Golf, Veterans 5K, Cornhole, Horseshoes, Fishing and Stickball.

Traditional Games

Join us in activities that have been passed down from generation to generation. Games include: Blowgun, Chunkey, Cornstalk Shoot, Hatchet Throw, Marbles and the Stickball Shootout.

Other Events

While not officially associated with Cherokee National Holiday, there are longstanding traditions which coincide with Holiday over Labor Day weekend. These events include an annual meeting for the Association of the Descendants of Nancy Ward, among others.