Choctaw Nation plans free indoor trick-or-treating in Durant on Oct. 24, then a powwow that draws more than 60 tribes Nov. 6-8

The Choctaw Nation's fall calendar in Durant, Okla., moves from its Cultural Center festival to Halloween and then to its annual powwow over the next three weeks.

Halloween Trick or Treat, Saturday, Oct. 24

The Choctaw Cultural Center at 1919 Hina Hanta Way will hold a free Halloween Trick or Treat from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24, according to the center. Everything is indoors, so weather will not cancel it.

The evening is open to everyone and includes games with prizes and vendor booths handing out candy and treats. Costumes are encouraged, with contests for toddlers, youth and adults, and vendors will compete for a best booth award. A cake walk will raise money for improvements to the center's stickball arena.

Earlier that day, the center's Cinema at the Center series will show "Monsters, Inc." from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Kowi Chito Theater. Admission is free, and concessions will be sold.

Powwow and Heritage Fest, Nov. 6-8

The Choctaw Powwow runs from Friday, Nov. 6, through Sunday, Nov. 8, at the Choctaw Event Center, 3702 Choctaw Road, to open what organizers call Native American month. Admission is free, and the event will also be streamed live, according to the powwow schedule.

Kerrie Steve of the Choctaw Cultural Center told KXII last week that the powwow brings dancers from more than 60 tribes, with visitors coming from 20 to 25 states and five Canadian provinces.

Doors open at 1 p.m. Friday, with gourd dancing in the afternoon and the first grand entry and contests at 7 p.m. Saturday has grand entries at 12:30 and 6:30 p.m. and a drum contest in the evening. Sunday opens with Choctaw hymns at 10:30 a.m. and ends with a sing-off and closing at 5 p.m.

The same weekend, the Cultural Center hosts its Heritage Festival, formerly called Choctaw Day, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The schedule lists an art market, a silent auction, stickball and social dancing demonstrations, a Choctaw language class and a stickball tournament on Saturday. The festival is included with Cultural Center admission, which is free for Choctaw tribal members and center members.

The lineup follows the center's Fall Festival, which KXII reported drew visitors from across the country to Durant.

Sources

choctawculturalcenter.com

KXII

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