Seminoles' American Indian Arts Celebration: Nov. 1-2, 2019

Poster for American Indian Arts Celebration — Every year in early November, the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum hosts the American Indian Arts Celebration (AIAC) on the museum grounds in the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation.

Folks may expect fry bread and alligator wrestling, but when they journey into the Everglades for the Seminole Tribe’s American Indian Arts Celebration Nov. 1 to 2, 2019, they’re also going to see dancers, hear native musicians and meet some wildlife.

The Seminole’s annual cultural festival unfolds on the Big Cypress reservation, half way between Naples and Fort Lauderdale off Alligator Alley, at the exceptional Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum.

Even without the festival, the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum is worth a visit. It opens with a dramatic multi-screen media presentation and its well-designed dioramas and exhibits explain Seminole history and traditions.

A highlight for many visitors is the one-and-a-half-mile boardwalk through a cypress swamp adjacent to the museum. About half way through the walk, visitors come to the village and ceremonial grounds with chickees where Seminole artists and craftsmen interact with visitors.

While the festival offers a full schedule of entertainment on its main stage, many come for the Native American vendors who bring silverwork, beadwork, woodwork, basketry, leatherwork, photography, paintings, jewelry and an array of food to the Indian market.

The event will take place on the festival grounds across from the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum on the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation.

The festival includes special activities for children, including a “take-away craft.” The festival always includes a Friday so that school groups can come on field trips.

Native American vendors sells arts and traditional arts in the Indian market.

Alligator wrestling at Seminoles' 2010 American Indian Arts Celebration by Heather Culligan — Alligator wrestling at American Indian Arts Celebration by Heather Culligan via Flickr

More about the American Indian Arts Celebration Nov. 1 and 2

When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday and Saturday

Where: From I-75 (Alligator Alley), take exit 49, Snake Road. Travel north about 17 miles. Snake Road becomes Josie Billie Highway as you enter the Seminole community. Approximately one mile past the water tower, Josie Billie Highway intersects with West Boundary Road. The museum is on the left at the corner of West Boundary Road and Josie Billie Highway. Museum parking is on the right, opposite the main entrance to museum.

Admission: $10 for adults, $7.50 for seniors, students and military with ID. Children 4 years and under are free. This include admission to the museum and the festival. (This is the same price as museum admission alone on other days.)