Queens County Farm Museum and the Thunderbird American Indian Dancers present the 41st annual Thunderbird American Indian Powwow. The event will take place from Friday, July 26 util Sunday, July 28. New York City’s oldest and largest powwow will feature three days of intertribal Native American dance competitions. This powwow is one of the 10 largest powwows in the U.S. and has attracted over 200,000 attendees since Queens Farm hosted its first powwow in 1978.
Welcoming Native American and non-Native people, this event celebrates American Indian Culture through music, dance, authentic Native-made jewelry, ceramics, textiles and other products and food. Over 40 Indian Nations will be represented at this three-day spectacular event including Hopi, Winnebago, Cherokee, Kiowa, Lakota, Navajo, Santo Domingo, Taino, Matinecock, Shinnecock, San Blas Kuna, Rappahanock, Choctaw, Osage and Delaware Nations. Dancers come from all over the United States and Canada.
Dance and music have always been a central part of Native American culture since it is directly connected to religion and social interaction. Powwows are social gatherings where friends and family can enjoy each other’s company, often after many months of separation. This kind of rekindling of friendships goes back thousands of years, as do such similar gatherings in all cultures. The modern powwow developed after the institution of the Reservation System is derived from the Plains Indians War Dance gatherings and is dominated by dance styles developed in the Plains.
The Thunderbird American Indian Powwow experience connects the public to these native traditions and cultures. They can see and hear how the original inhabitants of this great land celebrate their legacy without having to travel to the west.
The program includes six major dance categories for competing dancers. In addition, there are several other non-competitive dances such as gourd dance, round dance, rabbit dance, and demonstrations of several kinds of Iroquois, Pueblo or Apache dances. The Grand Entry is a regal moment to experience the full dress of these dancers. Each dance section is explained to the public. At the end of the Friday and Saturday evening sessions, the audience is invited to join the dance circle around the bonfire and dance with the native dancers offering an incredible, authentic experience. The bonfire is lit each evening after sunset between 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.
In addition to dance and dance competitions, the Thunderbird American Indian Powwow will host a food and craft market featuring Native American vendors. One of the most popular foods is the native fry bread. Fry bread, a plate of deep-fried confection, is eaten by most native people in one form or another. Sometimes it is eaten with a stew, or just by itself with a handful of strawberries sprinkled on top. A large selection of authentic Native American art, crafts, jewelry and food will be available for sale.
“Imagine the bonfire roaring at dusk in the field at Queens Farm and over 100 dancers in native dress dancing around the bonfire,” said Jennifer Walden Weprin, executive director of the Queens County Farm Museum. “The Thunderbird American Indian Powwow is one of the longest running events at Queens Farm. We have shared this event with generations of visitors.”
“Most people think of Native American culture as a thing of the past,” stated Louis Mofsie, director of the Thunderbird American Indian Dancers. “This Powwow showcases a living, developing culture. This is a wonderfully educational and entertaining cultural event.”
The public will see dancers dressed in arguably the most beautiful clothing anywhere in the world. The music is authentic and true to hundreds-of-years old traditions. Attendees are transported into the midst of true Native American culture. Between the smell of the fry bread, the beat of the drum, the dazzle of the dancers’ regalia, the art, craft and food of the vendors and the heat of the sun, one is moved into the most ancient traditions of this land.
On Friday, July 26, the event gates open at 6 p.m. and performances are scheduled from 7 to 10 p.m. On Saturday, July 27, gates open at 10 a.m. and performances run from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. On Sunday, July 28, gates open at 10 a.m. and performances are scheduled from noon to 5 p.m.
Online tickets are available at a discount; the day pass is $10 or $5 for kids 12 and under and the weekend pass is $16, or $7 for kids 12 and under for unlimited entry. Day passes at the door cost $15, or $8 for kids 12 and under. Tickets can be purchased at queensfarm.org.
Limited straw bale seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Visitors are encouraged to bring lightweight, portable seating to this event. There is free event parking and bicycle racks on-site. Queens Farm grounds and restrooms are accessible. The Queens County Farm Museum is located at 73-50 Little Neck Parkway in Floral Park. All event proceeds support Thunderbird American Indian Dancers Scholarship Fund and the Queens County Farm Museum Education Program. Additional event information is available at queensfarm.org.
