Choctaw Nation Labor Day Festival

Choctaw Nation Labor Day festival to feature many cultural activities

 TUSKAHOMA, Okla. – Chief Gary Batton would like to invite everyone to the Choctaw Nation’s annual Labor Day Festival Sept. 3-7 on the historic capitol grounds of Tvshka Homma.

There is something for all ages!  The festival opens at 7 p.m. on Sept. 3 with royalty from all 12 districts vying for the titles of Little Miss, Jr. Miss and Miss Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.  More than 130 booths will feature artists and unique arts & crafts beginning Friday at 10 a.m.  Several other events open Friday for visitors such as the Healthy Living Expo, the Capitol museum and museum gift shop, Choctaw social dance on the Capitol lawn, and a carnival.

Highlights on Friday also include the unveiling of the Choctaw Youth – Connecting the Culture sculpture at 6:30 p.m. in the Heritage Garden in front of the Capitol building.  It’s a full evening of activities with gourd dancing, Inter-Tribal POW Wow, concerts, and the kick off of the stickball and softball tournaments.

Sports are a large attraction on Saturday with fitness challenges, horseshoe, volleyball and basketball tournaments as well as the continuation of the stickball and softball tournaments.

Activities begin in the Choctaw Village at 10 a.m. Saturday with Choctaw social dancing, traditional demonstrations, singing, storytelling and youth games.

The Choctaw National Day of Prayer begins at 7 a.m. Sunday followed by worship services in the chapel. A full afternoon and evening of gospel singing begins at noon at the amphitheater.  The annual Choctaw Singing will also begin 6 p.m. Sunday evening, at the Chapel.

Chief Batton and six Tribal Councilmen will repeat the oath of office Sept. 7 during the annual Labor Day ceremony, 10 a.m. at the amphitheater, followed by the annual State of the Nation address.

For a full schedule and more information, please check our website www.choctawnation.com.