CHEROKEE COUNTY The fall lineup of festivals and events promises to offer tons of fun and activities with concerts, Cherokee holidays, vintage cars, food and a race to save lives.
The Terp Float Festival is a late summer event featuring two days of live music, river floats, camping and food trucks, August 2-3, at Sparrowhawk Camp. Private boats are allowed and there is a swimming hole near the beach stage. Campers can enjoy a half-mile of river camping, including “car camping on the beach.”
On August 17, a 5K and 1-mile fun run is being held to celebrate International Overdose Awareness Day. Runners will follow a mapped area around Heritage Elementary School. The event begins at 8 a.m. at 333 Southridge Road.
Rozlyn Locust, deputy administrator of the Cherokee County Health Services Board, which is organizing the event, told TDP in an earlier interview that the goal is to ensure community members know where addiction resources and treatment services are located.
Kathy Tibbits is hosting the 38th annual Blue Note Roundup concert at Sparrowhawk Camp, October 5-8. Admission to the concert is free, and attendees can reserve their spot at the camp for that weekend.
“We encourage people to camp because it ends too late at night, and on Thursday, October 5, the music starts at 5 p.m.,” Tibbits said. “They can bring their chairs and the music goes on for four days. It’s an affordable event, with just the camp and food costs.” [for attendees]” . “
Wild camping is unlimited, Tibbits said. For a site with hookups, the cost is a little higher. Music spans all genres and more than 30 bands play over the four days.
“It’s a really cool place for musicians because they go from camp to camp and play together during the festival,” Tibbits said. “A big open jam on Saturday night starts around 11 p.m. around a campfire.”
Cherokee National Day will be held on August 30-31 and September 1. This year's theme is “Weaving Our Future.” Designed by Cherokee National Treasure Dan Mink, it aims to illustrate the traditional story of the water spider.
“One of the smallest creatures, [the story] “This demonstrated that, no matter how small, each of the tribe's more than 450,000 citizens can make a significant and meaningful contribution to the fabric of Cherokee culture that will have positive impacts on future generations of Cherokees,” promotional materials on the Cherokee Nation website say.
Weekend events include traditional games, live music, art exhibits and an intertribal powwow.
The United Keetoowah Cherokee Indian Tribe celebrates its national holiday with a day-long event on October 5. A golf tournament is planned before the event itself, on October 3 and 4. The celebration is filled with traditional games, a fishing tournament, a fun run and music.
“A complimentary meal of traditional dishes will be served at the UKB Pavilion,” said Michelle Downing, UKB administrative assistant. “The menu includes beans, pork, fried potatoes and fried bread.”
The fun run starts at 7 a.m. and the fishing tournament will take place at the resort pond.
The OksWagen festival, hosted by Foul Air Klub, will take place on Oct. 5 along Muskogee Avenue, starting at 10 a.m. and ending at 4 p.m. It is hosted by the Tahlequah Main Street Association, and the website says Tahlequah and Volkswagen seem to be a good match.
“They both share a certain comfort and reliability. They are funky and have original features that are appreciated by their owners and citizens,” the site says.
To close out the fall season and welcome the holidays, Ladies Night Out, another popular TMSA event, will take place on November 21 from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets go on sale October 16 at 10 a.m.
“Tickets are $5 and include a promo sheet, card and wristband,” the TMSA website states. “The first 100 customers to purchase their tickets will receive a ‘goodie’ bag. Inside these bags you will find gifts from participating area businesses and the chance to find a Golden Ticket. Golden Tickets are prizes with a minimum value of $25.”
Learn more
For more information on Terp Float, visit terpfloatoklahoma.com/pages/contact-us. To learn more about the Blue Note Roundup, call Tibbits at 918-797-5016. For a complete calendar of Cherokee national holiday events, visit the www.cherokeeholiday.com. For more information on UKB holiday vendor hours and opportunities, call Downing at 918-871-2800, ext. 2753. Call TMSA at 918-931-1699 for details on registering a car or being a vendor for the OksWagen event and Ladies Night Out.
