Celebrate Culture at the Chickasaw Annual Meeting and Festival
Five Festival Experiences Not to Miss
If you’ve ever come away from a family reunion and felt a renewed sense of belonging, that’s most likely what you feel when you experience the Chickasaw Annual Meeting and Festival each autumn in Tishomingo, Oklahoma. It’s a week of festivities featuring Chickasaw cultural events such as the Princess Pageant, social stickball game and stomp dance and the Chickasaw Senior Olympics. But, if you’re only able to attend one day of the celebration, consider Saturday (traditionally the first Saturday in October) the grand finale. With these top five experiences and then some, it’s a day surely not to be missed.
The Parade
Scope out your favorite spot on Main Street well before noon when the parade begins, because you're going to want a front row seat for this one. Chickasaw dignitaries and other high-profile leaders kick off the parade while marching bands, dancers, floats and even vintage cars follow, strutting their finest. The parade wraps up with a cavalcade of horses from the Chickasha Rodeo Foundation. Don’t forget to bring a bag or bucket to collect all the goodies thrown at the parade.
Chickasaw Traditional Meal
From noon until 3 p.m. on the east grounds of the Chickasaw Capitol, savor the flavors of a traditional Chickasaw meal. Some of the dishes likely to be featured are Pashofa made of cracked corn, Paskawaalhaaki', Shokha' Nipi' Awaalhahli' which is fried pork and fry bread and grape dumplings for dessert. Also, keep an eye out for Governor Anoatubby surrounded by throngs of people, as he’s a national treasure among the Chickasaw people.
SEASAM – Southeastern Art Show and Market
Upon the western part of the Capitol grounds, this juried art show allows artists of all ages that are from a federally recognized Southeastern tribe to showcase and sell their work. From wearable art to sculptures, musical instruments to paintings and everything in between, you’re likely to return with several one-of-a-kind treasures.
Cultural Demonstrations and Storytelling
You can see a litany of live demonstrations of cultural traditions. Customs such as the stomp dance where the turtle shell shakers worn on the legs of Chickasaw women call for a meditation on gratitude, while nearby storytellers weave stories of their nation’s oral traditions. Or try your hand at social stickball which is something similar to Lacrosse. But, be forewarned, it’s not as easy as you might think.
Tour the Chickasaw National Capitol and Chickasaw Council House Museum
Built in 1898 of red granite, the building overlooking Tishomingo served as the seat of the Chickasaw government. Now it has been completely restored and serves as a museum exploring the Chickasaw Nation’s identity of gracious resilience and independence. Also, make sure to visit the Chickasaw Council House Museum next door for a deep dive on how the Chickasaw people shaped their nation. This museum holds one of the largest collections of Chickasaw art, artifacts and archive materials.
If you plan your trip as a weekend getaway, where to eat, play and stay can mostly be centralized around Main Street.
WHAT TO DO
Catch a live music performance at The Dog House at Ole Red, or shop at the various boutiques along Main Street, including Junk Stars and HOME Decor & More. And, for the best cocktails in town, look no further than across the street at Mulberry.
If the festival piqued your interest in the Chickasaw Nation’s culture, make the short drive to Chickasaw Cultural Center, Chickasaw White House and Fort Washita to further your First American immersion within Chickasaw Country.
WHERE TO EAT
American singer and television personality Blake Shelton hails from Chickasaw Country, and chose Tishomingo as his flagship Ole Red location on Main Street serving lunch and dinner daily. You can expect all of the diner classics at the breakfast to dinner Oklahoma original – Boom-a-rang Diner. And you can enjoy Tex-Mex favorites at Gonzales Mexican Restaurant. Or opt for seafood delicacies at Snapper Shack Grill and Oyster Bar.
WHERE TO STAY
There are two well-appointed inns on Main Street – The Pennington Inn and Mulberry Inn. If you plan to stay at either during the annual meeting and festival, make sure to book far in advance, as space is limited. Pro-tip – leave your car parked at the respective inns during the festival, because parking availability in Tishomingo will also be limited.
If you prefer to get away from the crowds and enjoy nature, camp sites are plentiful along the Blue River at Hughes Crossing. This natural area was once owned by Austin and Mamie Hughes of the Chickasaw Nation. They chose this area as their land allotment due to Congress’s Indian Removal Act of 1830.