Come together and celebrate Indigenous cultures at the City of Santa Ana’s Native American Heritage Festival on Sunday, November 12, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Thornton Park.
Visitors will enjoy Native American and Indigenous music, crafts, traditional song and dance, storytelling, and interactive experiences. This family-friendly festival will celebrate the rich diverse cultures and traditions of the Native American and Indigenous communities.
This year’s event will include the special talents of world champion hoop dancer Eric Hernandez (Lumbee Tribe) and Michael “Shining Blue Star” Folkert (Cherokee) a Native flute musician. A Welcome Ceremony with opening remarks will officially begin at 12 p.m., following a performance of the National Anthem by Anastacia Walker.
Attendees can also look forward to other exciting opportunities, including:
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Local vendors and artisans
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Local entertainment
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Food trucks
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Kids Zone, with activities including a rock-climbing wall, arts and crafts, face painting, balloon animals and an interactive bubble experience
This festival is coordinated and brought to the community by All Occasion Services, a full-service event production & management company selected by the City of Santa Ana through a rigorous Request for Proposal (RFP) process. Upon considering all proposals, the City selected All Occasion Services to produce the 2023 event.
Luke Swenty, President & CEO of All Occasions Services, is looking forward to bringing this exciting event to the Santa Ana community and said, “Attendees can enjoy cultural performances and are invited to join live demos, including a drum circle and experience ancient hula, which combines rhythmic movement and storytelling. It’s an opportunity to connect with and learn from the Native community.”
All available parking is free. Parking is limited at Thornton Park, located 1801 W. Segerstrom Ave., Santa Ana. Additional parking will be available nearby at McFadden Institute of Technology (MIT), located at 2701 S. Raitt St., Santa Ana. The entire community is invited to attend the festival and support in celebrating the dynamic cultural landscape in Santa Ana.
Additional event information can be found at www.santa-ana.org/event/native-american-heritage-festival/.
