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Community Event

Virginia Native American Festival

Performances and Cultural Experiences

Upper Mattaponi dancing and drumming throughout the day
Traditional storytelling and flute performance by Patrick "Littlewolf" brooks of Five Feathers Productions
Shinny demonstrations with the Powhatan Shinny League
Meet Samuel McGowan, a Mattaponi cultural keeper and manager of Indigenous Peoples Programming for the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, and explore recreations of tools and artifacts highlighting past and present Mattaponi culture

Try It, See It, Explore It

Try archery
See dugout canoe demonstrations
Watch fire-building demonstrations
Join guided walks exploring traditional uses of local plants
Meet live animals
Take part in hands-on crafts and activities

Native Food and Artisans

Come hungry and browse work from Native artists and makers throughout the festival.

Five Feathers Productions — Native food vendor
Chickahominy Beaded Turtle — handmade Native American jewelry
Yvonne Goad, Pamunkey Tribe — painted and carved gourds
Ken Custalow, Mattaponi Tribe — jewelry and flutes
Kara Taquka Creations — Indigenous beadwork by Kara Canaday, citizen of the Chickahominy Indian Tribe
Powhatan Owen — pottery and decorative items

Loudoun’s First Farmers

Explore a traveling exhibit from the Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum featuring pottery sherds, stone tools and projectile points used by generations of Indigenous people. The exhibit explores changing foodways and the growing use of wild and later domesticated plants.

Festival Schedule

Guided Plant Walks
- Every 30 minutes beginning at 10 a.m.
Upper Mattaponi Drum and Dance Performances
- Ongoing throughout the day
Live Animal Presentations
- 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Fire-Building Demonstrations
- 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m.
- Inside the Riverbend Park Visitor Center

Explore exhibits highlighting Indigenous people and history, see live animals and visit the park gift shop. Snacks and ice cream are also available.

Questions? Learn more by clicking the FAQ Button

FAQ Questions

Registration: Register Online

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Riverbend Park Location

8700 Potomac Hills St.
Great Falls, VA, 22066
Link to Google Maps
Map of Riverbend Park

The dance circle, or arena, is a sacred space. Please remain outside the circle and watch from the bleachers, hay bales or around the perimeter. Only dancers, drummers, honored veterans and designated helpers should enter the arena. Please keep children and pets outside the dance circle.

Usually, but please follow the direction of the Master of Ceremonies. The MC will let visitors know when to sit, stand, remove hats or refrain from taking photos or videos.

Please use regalia, not “costumes.” Regalia is often handmade and may include sacred or meaningful family heirlooms.

No. Please do not touch dancers’ regalia or fallen feathers. If you see a feather or another item that has fallen, let the MC or a park staff member know.

The festival welcomes members of the Pamunkey, Mattaponi, Upper Mattaponi and Chickahominy tribes.

Park Authority

Alert:

Department Resources

Community Event

Virginia Native American Festival

Performances and Cultural Experiences

Try It, See It, Explore It

Native Food and Artisans

Loudoun’s First Farmers

Festival Schedule

Click to view in Google Maps

Riverbend Park Location

Festival FAQs

Recent Interactions

Ask Fairfax

Park Authority

Alert:

Department Resources

Community Event

Virginia Native American Festival

Performances and Cultural Experiences

Try It, See It, Explore It

Native Food and Artisans

Loudoun’s First Farmers

Festival Schedule

Click to view in Google Maps

Riverbend Park Location

Festival FAQs

What should I know before watching the drum and dance performances?

Can I take photos or videos during performances?

What is the proper term for the dancers’ clothing?

Can I touch a dancer’s regalia or feathers?

Which tribes will be represented at this year’s festival?

Community Event

Virginia Native American Festival

Recent Interactions

Ask Fairfax