Moundville Festival Celebrates Native American Cultures

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama’s Moundville Archaeological Park will host the 31^st annual Moundville Native American Festival Oct. 9-12.

The event features artists, craftsmen and educators from around the nation sharing their knowledge of Southeastern Native American cultures.

“The Moundville Native American Festival has become a homecoming for those who have participated in the event for decades,” said Dr. Alexander Benitez, director of UA’s Moundville Archaeological Park. “Many visitors have become part of this reunion of extended family that come together each year to celebrate the rich cultures of Southeastern Native Americans.”

The festival will include several prominent Native American performers. Grayhawk Perkins will be the Native American stage emcee and provide entertainment throughout the festival. The Native American stage will also include stomp dancers, social dancers and the great hoop-dancer, Lyndon Alec. They will be joined by Injunuity, a flute-centric roots group from Oklahoma that has been nominated for a Native American Music Award.

Living history presenters will reenact how different Native American tribes and others lived over the years. Presenters will demonstrate cooking, dressmaking, tools and weapons.

The children’s area will include numerous craft activities, stickball demonstrations and other educational activities. Visitors are also encouraged to visit the Jones Archaeological Museum, gift shop and café, which will be open throughout the festival.

Vendors of quality Native American crafts will also be on hand, as well as food vendors who will provide Native American foods and traditional festival foods, such as hot dogs and shaved ice.

According the Benitez, the layout of the festival will be visitor-friendly with the children’s area in a centralized location and cooling stations placed across the park.

“We hope everyone who comes to the festival will leave with a greater appreciation of Native American cultures,” said Benitez. “Many people have this misconception that Native Americans are a people of the past. The festival is an extraordinary showcase that tribal nations and their cultural traditions are still thriving.”

Festival hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 9, 10 and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 11, 12. Admission is $12 for adults and $10 for students and seniors.

UA’s Moundville Archaeological Park is located 13 miles south of Tuscaloosa off Alabama Highway 69.