The Sequoyah Birthplace Museum to Present the Cherokee Fall Festival

VONORE, TN – The Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, Tennessee’s only tribally-owned museum, will host its 28th annual Cherokee Fall Festival 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 7-8.

Visitors will have the opportunity to step back in time to experience Native American food, Cherokee arts and crafts demonstrations, music and dance. A blacksmith will be doing on-site demonstrations in the shop both days. Other demonstrations and displays will include Cherokee life in 1700’s and a Civil War encampment. There will be a Civil War battle re-enactment at 2 p.m.

This year’s theme will be “Cherokee Folklore, Legends, and Traditions.” Visitors will be able to meet and talk with Cherokees from the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina. Special entertainment will be provided by the Warrior Dancers of Ani-Kituhwa who are the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians official ambassadors. Check out the reconstructed 1800’s dog-trot log cabin. Meet and chat with Miss Cherokee and have your name written in Cherokee. Tennessee State Parks will conduct a Birds of Prey program on both days. There will be Cherokee cooking demonstrations and a Civil War gun display.

Other activities include posters from Cherokee Elementary school. Darts, beads, talking sticks, face painting and free Cherokee name cards will be available for children. A children’s blowgun competition and an adult blowgun competition will take place on both days. Traditional Indian Fry bread and Indian tacos, and other food and drinks will be sold.

This event is funded in part by Tennessee Arts Commission Rural Arts Program Grant, Cherokee Preservation Foundation, and the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children 13-18 years old and free for children 12 and under. A family rate for $25 is also available.

For more information, contact the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum at 423-884-6246.