30th Annual Festival Slated for October 14th-16th
Nashville, TN – Long Hunter State Park will host the 30th Annual Pow Wow and Fall Festival October 14th-16th, featuring Native American artists, musicians, dancers, food and storytellers. Sponsored by the Native American Indian Association of Tennessee, this time-honored gathering draws thousands of people from across the country and offers a great opportunity to explore a variety of tribal customs and cultural experiences.
“For 30 years, the annual NAIA Pow Wow has provided a unique forum to showcase Native American history, while educating families and students about its importance in helping shape our nation,” said Thurman Mullins, manager of Long Hunter State Park. “The festival is designed to help preserve this heritage for future generations and we look forward to seeing the many wonderful artists and performers who will be on hand to share their talents.”
In addition to musicians and dancers, the festival will feature craftspeople selling their wares and handicrafts at various vendor booths, along with a number of games and activities for the whole family. Live performances will be held throughout the three-day event, with Tim Tallchief serving as the master of ceremonies and Marty Pinnecoose as the arena director.
Activities will begin at 9:00am each day, running into the evening. Admission is $6.00 for adults, $3.00 for children ages 6 to 12 and senior citizens, and children aged 5 and under will be admitted free of charge. NAIA-TN is offering a Free School Day on Friday, October 14th, from 10:00am until 2:00pm for all students, teachers and school faculty members.
Proceeds from the 2011 Pow Wow will benefit NAIA’s Scholarship and Emergency Relief Funds. Chartered in 1983, NAIA’s Tennessee chapter is the only statewide nonprofit organization with an all-Indian board of directors elected by the membership and represents the concerns of more than 10,000 Native American Indian residents in Tennessee.
For more information and specific event times and activities at the 2011 Pow Wow and Fall Festival, please call the NAIA’s Nashville office at 615.232.9179 or e-mail them at naia@bellsouth.net. Additional information about the event can be found on the NAIA Web site at www.naiatn.org.
Long Hunter State Park is situated along the shore of J. Percy Priest Lake. It consists of four units: Couchville, Baker’s Grove, Bryant Grove and Sellars Farm. Picnicking, swimming, hiking, backpacking, boating, fishing, nature photography and wildlife observation are among the activities available to park visitors. Planned activities include interpretive and recreation programs for the general public and environmental education programs for school and other interested groups. For more information about Long Hunter State Park, please visit www.tnstateparks.com/LongHunter or call 615.885.2422.
About Tennessee State Parks
Tennessee’s 53 state parks offer a diverse natural, recreational and cultural experience for individuals, families or business and professional groups. Tennessee State Parks also offer a variety of outdoor fun including hiking trails, water sports, mountain biking, golf and skeet shooting. For a free brochure about Tennessee State Parks, call toll free 1.888.867.2757. Or visit the Web site at www.tnstateparks.com to learn more about Tennessee State Parks.
