A free family-friendly weekend festival honoring Native American people and culture is headed to San Bernardino this fall – and all are welcome!
Located about an hour away from Downtown Los Angeles, San Bernardino’s Cal State University is hosting this year’s San Manuel Pow Wow, a festival welcoming over 1000 Native American dancers and drummers from across North America as well as 100+ vendors, traditional food, grand entry processions, and more.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary in September, the San Manuel Pow Wow is shaping up to be quite the cultural event
Guests can also expect bird singing, intertribal dances, cultural experiences, as well as dance and drum competitions for over $250,000 of prize money. The artisanal vendors will include only Native American artists. Guests are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs and blankets.
“The Tribe is proud to honor their heritage and tradition, while also supporting the region as one of the Top 5 employers in San Bernardino County with nearly 8,000 employees and over 20,000 jobs supported across the state,” reads a press release. “With over 80% of Yaamava’ Resort & Casino’s revenue coming from outside of San Bernardino County, their work brings meaningful dollars to the community as a whole. In addition to their contributions to the local economy, San Manuel gives back to communities across the nation with over $450 million donated over the past two decades supporting education, healthcare, housing, and public safety.”
The competitive categories include Men’s Dance, Women’s Dance, Couple Routines, Teen Dance, Junior Dance, and a Youth Drum contest. Participants can sign up on the day of and will compete for monetary prizes ranging from $200 to $10,000.
All weekend activities will take place on Cal State’s soccer fields near the Coussoulis. Public parking will be free in Lots G and H on Kendall Drive.
📍 Cal State, San Bernardino, 5500 University Parkway, San Bernardino, CA 92407
📆 Friday, September 18, 5 pm to 12 am, Grand Entry at 8 p.m.
Saturday, September 19, 11 am to 12 am, Grand Entry at 1 pm and 8 pm
Sunday, September 20, 11 am to 6 pm, Grand Entry at 1 pm
