Indian Summer Festival

Indian Summer Festival is a huge celebration and honoring of the Native American Culture. It is also one of the last summer Milwaukee festivals, and is held every year after Labor Day Weekend.

I know I’ve said this before, but this festival is another one of my favorites. It is a truly beautiful festival to attend.

If you attend this festival, attending one of the Powwows is a MUST! All Powwows are held in the stadium at the North end of the festival grounds.

The powwow is an honoring ceremony, is considered to be spiritually significant and is a sacred tradition in the Native American culture. There are many different types of dancers in the Powwow and all wear specific types of outfits to identify themselves and their role in the clan. Powwows always feature drumming, a Grand Entry, and an invocation blessing the gathering.

Unfortunately, this is the extent of my knowledge about this ceremony, however I can tell you how I feel when I participate as a witness. The Powwow is a truly powerful experience, and is probably the best opportunity to experience the beauty of this culture.

I’ve always felt that the Native American culture is particularly spiritual, and I’m really drawn to the way in which it honors all forms of life, including the earth and the animals that inhabit it. Indian Summer Festival focuses on these elements, and is a place to learn about alternative forms of medicine, the honoring of spirit and of nature, and the power of a united people.

Honoring the spirit involves not only honoring the spirit of those who are alive, but those who have moved on. I was very grateful to find myself at Indian Summer Festival one year when I found myself living in a house in which the former owner had died (and seemed to be still hanging around!) I was able to pick up a “smudging stick” at the festival, and use it to bless my home and keep the spirit in a positive light, if you know what I mean. Hey, believe it or not, it was real, and that smudging stick helped!! :)

So in addition to the Powwows, the honoring of spirit and learning about alternative medicine, of course Indian Summer Festival is also a place to EAT! You absolutely MUST have an Indian Taco! The Indian Taco is made with the traditional meat, lettuce, cheese and tomato – and then all of that is placed on top of a “frybread” which is an Indian flatbread, and it is DIVINE! You simply will not be satisfied with a regular old taco ever again. :)

I also recommend the frybread that is topped with powdered sugar or honey...yummy!

To learn more about the festival, including ticket prices and specific entertainers, please visit the official festival website (opens new window).

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