Indian summer fest celebrates 25 years

The Milwaukee Indian Summer Festival, a celebration of Native American culture, will be celebrating a milestone with its 25th anniversary this year.

The festival, held at Milwaukee’s Lakefront Maier Festival Park, will run Friday to Sunday, Sept. 9-11.

Visitors can expect to be fully submerged in Native American history and culture with crafts, food and entertainment.

Performances will include Brule, Joanne Shenandoah, Eagle and Hawk, Nick Hockings and others who perform traditional Native American songs and dances, blended with modern music.

There also will be a contest powwow, fiddle and jig contest, and a hand drum contest,

The festival will give visitors an opportunity to buy Native American crafts like baskets, wood carvings and jewelry, along with produce from the Tribal Farmers Market.

Food will include a mixture of traditional dishes like corn soup and buffalo along with hot dogs and popcorn.

A special Education Day for children will be held from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9.

“We have culture villages set up for the children,” festival worker Siobhan Marks said. “They walk through a long house and get to see natives weaving baskets and see different tribes.”

There will be fireworks at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and a special parade and ceremony will commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Festival hours are from 4 p.m. to midnight Friday, noon to midnight Saturday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.

Tickets cost $10 in advance or $12 at the door for adults. Children 12 and under are free and senior citizens 60 or older are $10 at the door.

The festival is free from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, with a donation of school supplies to the Milwaukee Indian Education Committee.

For more information, call (414)-604-1000 or visit indiansummer.org