The sights, sounds and flavors of Native American culture will return to downtown Tuscumbia next month as the Oka Kapassa: Return to Coldwater Native American Festival celebrates its 24th year.
The free, family-friendly festival is scheduled for Sept. 11-12 in and around Spring Park, offering visitors an opportunity to experience Native American music, dance, storytelling, traditional crafts, living history demonstrations and food.
The festival opens Friday, Sept. 11, with a pre-festival evening beginning at 5 p.m. A select group of Native American artisans and craftspeople will have their displays open, allowing visitors to meet the demonstrators ahead of Saturday’s main event.
At 6 p.m., nationally acclaimed musician Arvel Bird, a member of the Paiute Nation, will perform selections from his “Celtic Indian” performances featuring fiddle and Native flute. Chief Louis Johnson, a member of the Seminole Nation, also will combine storytelling and Native flute.
Members of the Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek and Cherokee Nations will participate in the evening gathering, sharing stories, traditions and cultural insights.
If rain moves into the area, Friday’s concert will be held at the Roundhouse at the Tuscumbia Depot.
The evening also will include a supper for participating tribal demonstrators as a tribute to the kindness shown by Tuscumbia residents during the Indian Removal era. The public can purchase ham and white beans, while park concessions also will be available.
Saturday’s festival begins at 10 a.m. in Spring Park, with the grand entry scheduled for 11 a.m.
Throughout the day, visitors can watch traditional and fancy dance demonstrations by Chickasaw, Cherokee and Choctaw dancers, along with hoop dancing performances by Alabama-Coushatta dancers.
The festival also will feature storytelling, Native American music, basketry, beadwork and other traditional crafts. Hands-on cultural activities and living history demonstrations will be available for visitors of all ages.
The Southern Pine Singers, a Choctaw group, will provide the traditional drum throughout the festival.
Food remains a major part of the annual event, with Native American cooks preparing dishes rooted in family traditions. Menu items are expected to include buffalo stew, buffalo burgers, fry bread, Indian tacos, roasted corn, fish, alligator and a pork and hominy dish.
The Pioneer Log Cabin on Dickson Street also will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday as part of the festival’s living history programming. The site will interpret life in Tuscumbia between 1815 and 1830.
The festival will conclude at 5 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free, and visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs for both days.
If Saturday’s events are affected by inclement weather, the festival will move to the Roundhouse at the Tuscumbia Depot.
For more information visit okakapassafestival.org or follow the Oka Kapassa Festival-Return to Coldwater Facebook page.
Got a tip for OTR? Send your tip to [email protected] with related photo/video, your name, phone number, and e-mail address.
