Native American Pow Wow July 4th - 6th in Cherokee North Carolina

The Native American Pow Wow in Cherokee North Carolina will entrain visitors with pounding drums, traditional Native American chants, Native American costumes and plenty of fancy footwork.

Visitors to the Cherokee Pow Wow this July 4th, 5th and 6th both young and old will have a great time watching the best native American Indian dancers from tribes near and far competing for cash prizes and bragging rights to be the best dancer or drummer in each category.

Visitors to the Cherokee Indian Pow Wow will also find native American Crafts and products and booths selling various food.

The Pow Wow will be held in the Cherokee fairgrounds and the gates open Friday July 4th at 5 pm, Saturday July 5th at 10 am and Sunday July 6th at 10 am.

The dancers and drummers will make the grand entrances on Friday at 7 pm, Saturday at 1pm and 7 pm and Sunday the final grand entrance will be at 1 pm.

The following are the dancing and drumming categories and the corresponding prizes:

Women Indian Dancers ages 18-49
Northern Traditional
Southern Traditional
Jingle Fancy
1st Prize = $1,000, 2nd prize = $800, 3rd prize = $600

Teen Girls Indian Dancers ages 13-17
Traditional (Buckskin & Cloth)
Jingle
Fancy
1st Prize = $250, 2nd prize = $150, 3rd prize = $50

Junior Girls Indian Dancers ages 6-12
Traditional (Buckskin & Cloth)
Jingle
Fancy 1st prize = $100, 2nd prize = $50, 3rd prize = $25

Men Indian Dancers ages 18-49
Traditional/Straight
Grass
Fancy
1st Prize = $1,000, 2nd prize = $800, 3rd prize = $600

Teen Boys Indian Dancers ages 13-17
Traditional/Straight
Grass
Fancy
1st Prize = $250, 2nd prize = $150, 3rd prize = $50

Junior Boys Indian Dancers ages 6-12
Traditional/Straight
Grass
Fancy
Fancy 1st prize = $100, 2nd prize = $50, 3rd prize = $25

Tiny Tots Indian Dancers ages 5 and under
Compete for Day Money

Golden Age Men and Women Indian Dancers ages 50+
1st prize = $800, 2nd prize = $600, 3rd prize = $400

Drum Contests:
Northern Style
Southern Style
1st prize = $2,000, 2nd prize = $1,500, 3rd prize = $1,000

Dance Specials for the Pow Wow:
Two Step, Chicken, Smoke (2), Daniel French Memorial, Fancy Shawl, Grass, and others!!!

For those who are going to participate in the Pow Wow as contestants for the dancers there is a $10 registration fee and for the drum contestants there is $50 Entry Fee and there must be 5 in group to enter contest.

At this time we would like to thank all of those competing in the Pow Wow as well as:

Pow Wow Arena Director: RG Harris, Apache, OK
Pow Wow MC: Rob Daugherty, Jay, OK
Head Dance Judge: Troy Saunsoci, Niobrara, NE
Head Drum Judge: Aaron Hogner, Cherokee, NC
Host Northern Drum: Black Lodge Singers, White Swan, WA
Host Southern Drum: Otter Trail, Ardmore, OK
Intermission Entertainment: Tommy Wildcat

Smokemont Campgrounds and access to Hiking Trails temporarily closed in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Smoky Mountains National Park is closing the Smokemont Frontcountry campgrounds, the Tow String Horse camp and access to hiking trails in the area from January 2nd until at least the end of February while water and sewer lines are installed in the area.

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Tribal Utility Department workers in cooperation with the national park service bringing in almost 3-1/2 miles of new water lines and sewer lines that will be connected to the existing Cherokee, NC water and sewer lines already in service.

In what can be described as a win win scenario this construction project in the Great Smoky Mountains national park will save the park service from having to update the terribly outdated sewer plant and water treatment facility within the park serving the area while also allowing residents of the Qualla Cherokee Reservation the ability to connect to municipal water and sewer lines.

The projected cost of this project is around $2.4 million to be split between both the Great Smoky Mountains national park which will provide approximately $1.5 Million and the Eastern Band of Cherokee will provide the remaining $900,000. It has not been released by the park service as to who will foot the bill for any cost overruns.

Winter in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park sees far fewer visitors in the park and even fewer campers who are willing to brave the cold weather. Even though Smokemont is one of the only 2 frontcountry campgrounds that remain open year round, there were less than a dozen campsites being used this weekend. For those who brave the cold, the peace and quiet and additional privacy that camping on the winter provides are well worth bundling up.

While the Smokemont campgrounds remain closed, campers who wish to stay in developed campgrounds may still camp in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the Cades Cove Campgrounds. For those who wish to camp in Smokemont in early March, it is advised to check with the park service ahead of time as any construction delays most likely due to bad weather.

The Great Smoky Mountains national park service press release started that Deputy Superintendent FitzGerald said, "While we regret having to shut down the campground this winter, we are very eager to get out of the water and waste water-treatment business. The Smokemont Sewer plant is old and would need substantial work to meet current water quality standards, so we can save money now, and over the long term, by connecting to municipal services."

Construction will begin shortly and you can already see markings on the pavement and stakes along Newfound Gap Road. In order to run the new water and sewer lines the park service is going to block off the bridges that take vehicles from Newfound Gap Road (441) over the Oconaluftee River to the Smokemont area. As a result of the bridge closing both hikers and equestrians will find that they will no longer to be able to reach the Bradley Fork or Tow String Trails via the Smokemont campgrounds.

The other bridge nearby along Newfound Gap Road to the Tow String area will have to remain open so that residents on the Tow String area of Qualla Cherokee Reservation can still enter and leave their community which has no other access to the outside.