Indigenous arts fest at Ah-Tah-Thiki
This weekend belongs to eastern Collier County. Along with the Everglades Music Festival, the annual American Indigenous Arts Celebration Friday and Saturday brings tribal talent in from around the state with ceremonial dance, arts, entertainment and food at the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum.
This weekend belongs to eastern Collier County. Along with the Everglades Music Festival, the annual American Indigenous Arts Celebration Friday and Saturday brings tribal talent in from around the state with ceremonial dance, arts, entertainment and food at the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum.
Admission and parking are free for both the celebration and the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum of Seminole culture.
The event celebrates Native American Heritage Month and is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on both days. The festival brings an expansive array of Seminole and Indigenous art, music, food, dance and more. Among the features: Billy Walker alligator wrestling, new museum exhibits, Seminole fashion shows, native arts and crafts vendors, tribal food vendors, native art displays, Pharaoh’s Wildlife Kingdom Wildlife Show, Osceola’s Legacy performance and live music by Rez Jams (with Seminole musical artists Cypress Billie and Gabriella Diaz).
The schedule is as follows:
Friday, Nov. 1
10 a.m.: Main Stage — grand entry opening ceremony
10:30 a.m.: Main Stage — White Mountain Apache Crown Dancers; Stage 360 — wildlife show
11 a.m.: Main Stage — fashion show featuring Ahfachkee students; Stage 360 — Champion Native American Hoop Dancers
Noon: Main Stage — Rez Jamz, Ahfachkee School Band; Stage 360 — Ameyal Mexican Cultural Academy
12:30 p.m.: Main Stage — Alligator wrestling; Stage 360 — Native American actor Dallas Goldtooth meet & greet
1 p.m.: Main Stage — Champion Native American Hoop Dancers; Stage 360 – White Mountain Apache Crown Dancers
2 p.m.: Stage 360 — wildlife show
2:30 p.m.: Main Stage — Rez Jamz, Cypress Billie; Stage 360 — Miss & Jr. Miss Florida Seminole Princesses meet & greet
3 p.m.: Main Stage — alligator wrestling; Stage 360 — Seminole flute music and storytelling
3:45 p.m.: Main Stage — White Mountain Apache Crown Dancers; Stage 360 — Champion Native American Hoop Dancers
Saturday, Nov. 2
10 a.m.: Main Stage — grand entry opening ceremony
10:30 a.m.: Main Stage — White Mountain Apache Crown Dancers; Stage 360 — wildlife show
11 a.m.: Main Stage — Champion Native American Hoop Dancers; Stage 360 — Rez Jamz
11:30 a.m.: Stage 360 — Seminole Princesses meet and greet
Noon: Main Stage — alligator wrestling; Stage 360 — Seminole flute music and storytelling
12:30 p.m.: Main Stage — White Mountain Apache Crown Dancers; Stage 360 — Dallas Goldtooth meet and greet
1 p.m.: Stage 360 — wildlife show
1:30 p.m.: Main Stage — Rez Jamz, Gabriella Diaz; Stage 360 — Champion Native American Hoop Dancers
2 p.m.: Main Stage — Lenora Roberts fashion show
2:30 p.m.: Stage 360 — Ameyal Mexican Cultural Academy
3 p.m.: Main Stage — alligator wrestling
3:30 p.m.: Stage 360 — White Mountain Apache Crown Dancers
3:45 p.m.: Main Stage — Champion Native American Hoop Dancers