For event dates, information, and more, please visit the official website of the 71st Cherokee National Holiday at https://thecherokeeholiday.com.
Celebrated yearly since 1953, the Cherokee National Holiday commemorates the original signing of the 1839 Cherokee Constitution. With an exciting selection of entertainment, cultural and athletic events, it has grown into one of the largest annual festivals in Oklahoma, attracting over 160,000 visitors from around the world and reaching more than 1,750,000 people on social media.
This annual event is a celebration of spiritual, mental, and physical well-being. It is a focal point emphasizing Cherokee heritage, cultural awareness and the reunification of our families. Thousands of Cherokees and other attendees from across the United States and abroad will make the pilgrimage to the historic Cherokee Nation capital in Tahlequah this September to renew friendships and celebrate the Cherokee spirit.
This celebration is jam-packed with sports activities for all ages, from traditional games such as Cherokee stickball and marbles, the cornstalk shoot and blowgun competitions to more cross-cultural events such as powwow dancing, golf and softball tournaments. Hundreds of vendor booths offer visitors the opportunity to view and purchase authentic Native American handmade arts, crafts and food. Music lovers can pick and choose from gospel and bluegrass music, a toe-tapping fiddler’s competition and even music from the internationally acclaimed, award-winning Cherokee National Youth Choir.
History buffs will enjoy the many great museums in the area, including the Cherokee National History Museum, Supreme Court Museum, and Prison Museum. Speaking of history, it is made each year as the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation delivers the State of the Nation address to the Cherokee people on the lawn of the Cherokee Nation Peace Pavilion.
Those with children will especially enjoy the annual parade downtown, story- telling, children’s games and fun, hands-on traditional crafts. The Intertribal Powwow, held on the Cherokee Nation Cultural Grounds, is always a crowd favorite. This celebration goes late into the night as dancers from across the United States compete for top prizes and honors.
The Cherokee National Holiday is a festive time in Tahlequah, a time for family and friends. It is sure to be an occasion you will want to experience every Labor Day weekend.
Vendors interested in arts and crafts or food booth space can now register on the Cherokee National Holiday website at www.thecherokeeholiday.com. The public is also invited to join the Holiday conversation early by participating in the online community accessible from the Holiday website.
Follow the latest news and announcements about the Cherokee National Holiday on the official Facebook page at Facebook.com/cherokeenationalholiday.
Cherokee Nation officials will continuously monitor COVID-19 conditions in the coming months and make any necessary changes to Cherokee National Holiday events in order to protect public health.For more information, contact Cherokee National Holiday Director Crystal Walters at 918-453-5000 ext. 5992 or holiday@cherokee.org.
