The Seminole Tribe of Florida will host its 45th Annual Tribal Fair and Pow Wow at Hard Rock Live and the Seminole Paradise Hooters lot at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood, Friday, Feb. 5, through Sunday, Feb. 7. The three-day cultural festival will feature a film screening, alligator wrestling shows, Native American dance troupes, live Native American musical performances and more. The Festival will be headlined by five-time Grammy nominated blues rock artist Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band. Gates open at 10 a.m. each day.
New in 2016, the festival will partner with the Historic Stranahan House Museum and feature the Native Reel Cinema Fest highlighting the short film “Ronnie BoDean” starring Wes Studi and two Spencer Battiest music videos, all directed by Native American Steven Paul Judd. Screenings will take place Friday, Feb. 5, at 5:30 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 6, at 5 p.m. in Seminole Paradise. Judd will host a Q&A session after each screening.
“Ronnie BoDean” highlights the life of a larger-than-life outlaw who must shake off an epic hangover and use his considerable street knowledge to take on his greatest challenge yet – babysitting. Judd’s film presents the first Native American anti-hero, allowing for a new opportunity to explore the culture’s representation in films. The film was financed by a successful Kickstarter campaign.
Battiest is an American Indian singer-songwriter, musician, producer and actor from Hollywood, Florida. In 2013, Battiest became the first American Indian artist to sign with Hard Rock Records. His music release song “The Storm” garnered his first music video win as a musician. The music video was filmed entirely on the Seminole Reservation in Florida, highlighting historical tribal land, ancestry and culture. The song was written as a tribute to the Seminole Tribe of Florida and pays homage to his parents, grandparents and tribal leaders. Battiest will join Judd during the Q&A session.
In addition to the lineup of Native arts, crafts, foods and music, the Fair will host a Pow Wow dance competition open to all Native people across the Americas. The Pow Wow will feature a drum competition of northern and southern drums a dance competition in northern traditional, southern straight, fancy, grass and chicken for the men; and northern traditional, southern buckskin, fancy, jingle and northern/southern cloth combined for the women.
Florida’s own Elizabeth Cook will perform Saturday, Feb. 6, at 5:45 p.m. and headliner Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band will perform Sunday, Feb. 7, at 1 p.m. The Tribal Fair will also play host to multiple Native American musical acts, including Cowbone Band, Derek Miller Band, The Osceola Brothers Band and the Ted Nelson Band.
All events are free to the public. For more information about the 45th annual Seminole Tribal Fair and Pow Wow or to view a schedule of performances, please visit www.semtribefairandpowwow.com or call the Tribal Fair information line at 866-625-5374.