What’s Happening: Cherokee National Holiday offers something for everyone

Thousands of Cherokee Nation citizens will travel to Tahlequah for the 71st Annual Cherokee National Holiday. A variety of events will be a part of the celebration that is held every Labor Day weekend in the CN’s capital city. The holiday commemorates the signing of the tribe’s first Cherokee Nation Constitution after the Trail of Tears on Sept. 6, 1839.

Traditional games, a powwow, art shows, children’s activities, parade, fishing tournament and quilt show are just some of the events taking place from Aug. 18 through Sept. 9.

Aug. 31

- 2-person 50 & over Golf Tournament – 9 a.m.

Cherokee Springs Golf Course

- Cherokee Homecoming Art Show – 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Cherokee Springs Plaza

- Cherokee National Holiday Quilt Show – 5-8 p.m.

Cherokee Casino Tahlequah Chota Conference Center

- Cherokee National Holiday Art Show – 5-8 p.m.

Cherokee Casino Tahlequah Chota Conference Center

Sept. 1

- 2-person All Ages Golf Tournament – 9 a.m.

Cherokee Springs Golf Course

- Cultural Enrichment Flat Reed Basketry – 8:30-10:30 a.m.

Cherokee Arts Center

- Cherokee Homecoming Art Show – 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Cherokee Springs Plaza

- Elder’s Fun – 12-4 p.m.

Sequoyah High School Old Gymnaisum

- Cherokee National Holiday Art Show – 12-8 p.m.

Cherokee Casino Tahlequah Chota Conference Center

- Cherokee National Holiday Quilt Show – 12-8 p.m.

Cherokee Casino Tahlequah Chota Conference Center

- Veterans Lunch – 12 p.m.

Sequoyah High School Place Where They Play

- Marketplace – 5-10 p.m.

Cherokee Nation Cultural Grounds

- Arts, Crafts, Food & Entertainment – 4-10 p.m.

One Fire Field

- The Free Fun Zone – 4-10 p.m.

One Fire Field

- Cherokee Nation Youth Choir Concert – 6 p.m.

Cherokee Casino Tahlequah Chota Conference Center

- Dalalapalooza Concert – 6-10 p.m.

One Fire Field

- Cherokee National Holiday Intertribal Powwow – 7 p.m.

Cherokee Nation Cultural Grounds

- Softball Slow Pitch Tournament – 7 p.m.

Sequoyah Sports Complex

Sept. 2

- Fun Run – 7 a.m.

Cherokee Nation Veterans Center

- Cherokee National Holiday 5k – 7:30 a.m.

Cherokee Nation Veterans Center

- Jason Christie Children’s Fishing Derby – 7-9 a.m.

Pond East of the W.W. Keeler Tribal Complex

- Chunkey Traditional Game – 8 a.m.

One Fire Field

- Cornstalk Shoot – 8 a.m.

One Fire Field

- Cultural Enrichment Flat Reed Basketry – 8:30-10:30 a.m.

Cherokee Arts Center

- Cherokee Homecoming Art Show – 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Cherokee Springs Plaza

- Cherokee National Holiday Art Show – 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Cherokee Casino Tahlequah Chota Conference Center

- Cherokee National Holiday Quilt Show – 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Cherokee Casino Tahlequah Chota Conference Center

- Arts, Crafts, Food & Entertainment – 9 a.m.-10 p.m.

One Fire Field

- Cherokee Artisan Marketplace – 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Cherokee Nation History Museum

- 3 on 3 Adult Basketball Tournament – 9 a.m.

Sequoyah High School Place Where They Play

- Cherokee Culture, Plants & Symbology Garden Tour – 9 a.m.

Osiyo Room/Cherokee Nation Heirloom Garden

- 4-person All Ages Golf Tournament – 9 a.m.

Cherokee Springs Golf Course

- Marbles Traditional Game – 9 a.m.

Cherokee Heritage Center

- Softball Slow Pitch Tournament – 9 a.m.

Sequoyah Sports Complex

- The Free Fun Zone – 9 a.m.-10 p.m.

One Fire Field

- Cornhole Tournament – 9:30 a.m.

Sequoyah Sports Complex Old Gymnasium

- Cherokee National Holiday Parade – 9:30 a.m.

Downtown Tahlequah

- Horseshoe Tournament – 9:30 a.m.

One Fire Field

- W.W. Keeler Complex Open House – 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

W.W. Keeler Tribal Complex

- Cherokee Culture, Plants, Symbology Presentation – 11 a.m.

Osiyo Room

- State of the Nation – 11 a.m.

Peace Pavilion (Downtown Tahlequah)

- Blowgun Traditional Game – 1 p.m.

One Fire Field

- Cherokee Culture, Plants, Symbology Presentation – 1 p.m.

Cherokee Nation Heirloom Garden/Osiyo Room

- Cherokee Talks: Calling for a Blanket Dance with Oscar Hokeah – 1 p.m.

Durbin Feeling Language Center

- Fiddlers Contest & Show – 1 p.m.

Cherokee Casino Tahlequah Chota Conference Center

- Hatchet Throw Traditional Game – 1 p.m.

One Fire Field

- Ross Family Reunion – 1-4 p.m.

Park Hill Presbyterian Church

- Cherokees Singing Together: A Community Gospel Sing – 2 p.m.

New Life Church

- Descendants of Nancy Ward Meeting – 2 p.m.

Tahlequah Armory Municipal Center

- Cherokee Talks: Pre-20th Century Cherokee Art with America Meredith – 3 p.m.

Durbin Feeling Language Center

- Arts & Crafts – 3-10 p.m.

Cherokee Nation Cultural Grounds

- Cherokee National Holiday Intertribal Powwow Gourd Dance – 2-5 p.m.

Cherokee Nation Cultural Grounds

- Stickball Shootout Traditional Game – 4 p.m.

Sequoyah Sports Complex

- Cherokee Talks: Standup Comedy with Zebadiah Nofire – 5 p.m.

Durbin Feeling Language Center

- Stickball Social Game – 5 p.m.

Sequoyah Sports Complex

- Stickball Exhibition Game – 6 p.m.

Sequoyah Sports Complex

- Dalalapalooza Concert – 6-10 p.m.

One Fire Field

- Cherokee National Holiday Intertribal Powwow Grand Entry – 7 p.m.

Cherokee Nation Cultural Grounds

Sept. 3

- Cultural Enrichment: Flat Reed Basketry – 8:30-10:30 a.m.

Cherokee Arts Center

- Arts, Crafts, Food & Entertainment – 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

One Fire Field

- Cherokee National Holiday Car Show – 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Cherokee Casino Tahlequah

- Cherokee Artisan Marketplace – 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Cherokee Nation History Museum

- 3 on 3 Youth Basketball Tournament – 9 a.m.

Sequoyah High School Place Where They Play

- Cherokee Talks: Poetry by Faith Phillips – 9 a.m.

Durbin Feeling Language Center

- 2-person Best Ball Golf Tournament – 9 a.m.

Cherokee Springs Golf Course

- Softball Slow Pitch Tournament – 9 a.m.

Sequoyah Sports Complex

- The Free Fun Zone – 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

One Fire Field

- Cherokee Homecomine Art Show – 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Cherokee Springs Plaza

- Cherokee National Holiday Art Show – 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Cherokee Casino Tahlequah Chota Conference Center

- Cherokee National Holiday Quilt Show – 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Cherokee Casino Tahlequah Chota Conference Center

- Sunday Morning Worship – 11 a.m.

Sequoyah High School Chapel

- Cherokee Talks: Beginning Your Journey to Speak Cherokee with Sarah Oosahwee-Voss – 11 a.m.

Durbin Feeling Language Center

- Free Feed to Go – 12:30-3:30 p.m.

Sequoyah High School Place Where They Play

- Cherokee Talks: Ethnobotany with Feather Smith – 1 p.m.

Durbin Feeling Language Center

- Cherokee Talks: The Pursuit of Storytelling with Jeremy Charles – 3 p.m.

Durbing Feeling Language Center

- Cherokee National Holiday Drive-In Fireworks Show – Dusk

Cherokee Springs Plaza

Sept. 9

- Cherokee National Holiday Fishing Tournament – Safelight

Tenkiller Lake (Chicken Creek)

For more information on Cherokee National Holiday events, visit thecherokeeholiday.com.