Discovery Park of America hosts Native American Educational Powow Oct. 27-29, 2023

What: Discovery Park of America is hosting a three-day Native American Educational Powwow on Oct. 27 – 29, 2023. The goal of this event, unique in Northwest Tennessee, is to provide a place for Indigenous people from tribes around the country to celebrate their culture while educating Discovery Park visitors on this aspect of our nation’s past, present and future.

The 2023 Northwest Tennessee Native American Educational Powwow will include competitions and displays of Indigenous storytelling, drumming, singing and competition dancing. There will also be Native American artisans, craftsmen and traders displaying and selling their work. Food vendors will provide opportunities to enjoy traditional cuisines like fry bread, tacos and hominy. All powwow activities take place on Discovery Park’s great lawn.

Find out more about the weekend schedule here.

When: Friday, Oct. 27-Sunday, Oct. 29

Friday, Oct. 27

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Everyone is invited to attend the festivities but Friday has been planned with students in mind.

There will be two sessions of circle events:

10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and 12:30 p.m.-2:00 p.m.

The circle events will include the following:

• Choctaw dancers in a powwow circle
• Social dances, stories and interactive dances with students
• Exhibition powwow category dances
• Explanation of dances for each category present, hoop dancer and games for students to participate in
• Arvel Bird performance and storytelling

After each session, “Birds of Prey” demonstrations will be provided from representatives of Reelfoot Lake State Park. An additional talk from the state park ranger will be provided at 3 p.m. for anyone who missed the first two demonstrations.

Saturday, Oct. 28

10 a.m. Arvel Bird early preview 

11 a.m. Opening ceremony 

12:00 p.m. Grand entry, introduction, round dance and intertribal dancing

1 p.m. Contest dance all categories, intertribal dancing and hoop dancer demonstration 

5 p.m. Performance from Arvel Bird

6 p.m. Grand entry, introductions, round dance and intertribal dancing 

7 p.m. Contest dance, intertribal dancing and hoop dancer demonstration 

9 p.m. Closing ceremony 

Sunday, Oct. 29

12:00 p.m. Opening ceremony 

 1:00 p.m. Grand entry, round dance and Intertribal dancing

 1:45 p.m. Hoop dancer demonstration 

 2:00 p.m. Contest dancing

 3:00 p.m. Announcement of category winners and closing ceremony 

 4:00 p.m. Discovery Park closes

Where: Discovery Park of America

Who: To arrange an interview or to attend, please contact Clare Saum at csaum@discoveryparkofamerica.com or 731-885-5455.

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The mission of Discovery Park of America, a premier world-class museum and heritage park located in Union City, Tennessee, is to inspire children and adults to see beyond. Included in the complex is a 50-acre heritage park and a 100,000-square-foot museum featuring 9 interactive exhibit galleries with additional space for temporary exhibits from around the world. Discovery Park of America is a 501(c)(3) public charity funded by generous individuals, corporations and foundations including its principal funder, the Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Foundation. For more information, visit DiscoveryParkofAmerica.com, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.