The Trail of Tears Native American Pow Wow got underway Saturday morning, and you couldn’t have asked for better weather as the sounds of drums and singing filled the air at the commemorative park off East Ninth Street in Hopkinsville.
Attendees got a chance to peruse Native American vendors, taste authentic Native American food—along with plenty of other food options—while they learned more about the culture and heritage of the people who were driven from their homes on the Trail of Tears, part of which traced its way through Christian County as the people made the trek to Oklahoma.
Trail of Tears Commission President Mike Hernandez says they were blessed with blue skies and lovely temperatures, and they saw that reflected in the crowds.
There were two grand entries on Saturday, where all the dancers showed their footwork in the arena, before the dancing competition began in earnest.
Hernandez invited everyone who couldn’t make it out Saturday to take advantage of the lingering good weather and come out Sunday, saying the Pow Wow is all about educating folks about the Trail of Tears while enjoying the spirit of community—and he hopes the Pow Wow keeps coming to Hopkinsville for many years to come.
The final grand entry for this year’s Pow Wow is set for 1 p.m. Sunday and gates open at 10 a.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for kids between the ages of seven and 12 and children six-years-old and younger get in free.
All money raised during the event that is a celebration of the Native American people and their history both nationally and locally will benefit the Trail of Tears Commemorative Park and Heritage Center.
