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The Poarch Band of Creek Indians’ 51st annual Thanksgiving Pow Wow will be held Nov. 23-24, 2023 on the Pow Wow Grounds in Poarch.

The Pow Wow is held to celebrate the cultural heritage and rick tradition of the PBCI.

The Pow Wow is a two-day homecoming celebration that highlights the Tribe’s rich cultural heritage with families, friends and neighbors. With November also being recognized as Native America Heritage Month, it is good time to educate the public about the Tribe and to raise a general awareness about the unique challenges Native people have faced, both historically and today.

“Pow Wow is our biggest event of the year, and one we look forward to celebrating. It is a wonderful opportunity for us to share more about our vibrant culture, rich tradition, as well as our history with those visiting,” said Stephanie Bryan, Tribal chair of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.

The event is full of family-friendly activities for all ages, including one of the most popular events – dance competitions. Both entertaining and educational, the dance competitions feature a several different styles of dance, with a variety of age categories, each arranged within male and female divisions, highlighting their authentic regalia. Another highlight is the annual crowning of the Poarch Creek Indian Princesses. Once crowned, Princesses will serve as Ambassadors for the Tribe throughout the year at public events, as well as Tribal gatherings, all around the United States.

In addition to the main performances, visitors can also enjoy unique crafts and goods for sale by local artisans and vendors, as well as festival favorite foods such as barbeque, oak wood fire-roasted corn, buffalo burgers, ham, and fried chicken. And if you’re looking for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, we’ll be serving turkey and dressing dishes, too.

This year marks the 51st anniversary of this unique gathering on Poarch’s reservation lands that began in 1971 as a homecoming celebration for Tribal members. Defined by its tradition of sharing, the Tribe extended invitations to friends and neighbors, and the event grew rapidly. Over a half-century later, the Poarch Pow Wow has become a favorite tradition for thousands of Alabama families, as well as visitors from across America, who travel to Atmore to experience Poarch’s unique tradition and to honor the Tribe’s place in Alabama’s history.

The Annual Thanksgiving Day Pow Wow starts at 10 a.m. each day. Admission is $15 for both days, $10 for one day, and kids 6 and under are free.