Second Annual Seminole Okalee Indian Village Pow-wow
Friday, May 11 from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 12 from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sunday, May 13 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
1 Seminole Way
Hollywood, FL 33314
www.semtribe.com
The second annual Seminole Okalee Indian Village Pow-wow will take place May 11 – 13 at Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. This thrilling three-day event will showcase the rich history of the Seminole Tribe and other Native American Tribes from all over the United States through exhibition Pow-wow dancing and competitions, wildlife and snake shows, a Native American crafts marketplace, traditional food and more. Immediately following the Pow-wow at 8 p.m. on Friday, May 11 and Saturday, May 12, the public is invited to view the Freestyle Alligator Wrestling Competitions (FAWC).
Gates will open on Friday, May 11 at 10 a.m. with a wildlife and snake show and an alligator wrestling show at the Seminole Okalee Indian Village Amphitheater. At noon each afternoon in Hard Rock Live, Seminole Tribe of Florida Council and Board representatives, dignitaries, veterans and royalty including Little Miss and Mr. Seminole, Miss and Jr. Miss Seminole will participate in a grand entry invocation to start the official dancing competition. Native American Tribes including Kiowa, Comanche, Lakota, Chippewa, Oneida, Cherokee and Cree will be traveling from California, North Dakota, Oklahoma, North Carolina, New York to join Seminole Tribe of Florida competitors. Men will be judged in Traditional, Grass and Fancy categories while women will compete in Traditional, Jingle and Fancy Shawl categories. The dancers will be accompanied by Southern Drums from Rose Hill and Northern Drums from Mandaree. Additional wildlife and snake shows and alligator wrestling shows will take
place throughout the weekend in between Pow-wow dancing segments. Winners of the competition will be announced at 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 13.
As an added attraction post Pow-wow at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, attendees can experience the thrill of watching the dangerous and extreme sport of alligator wrestling at the Freestyle Alligator Wrestling Competitions (FAWC). Alligator wrestling started as a survival technique by the Seminole Indians to capture and transport live alligators back to their camps for food. Generations later, this technique has evolved into a spectator sport that rivals the dangers of any contact sport today. Featured wrestlers will include FAWC founders James Holt, David Weathers, Ian Tyson and Clinton Holt who have over 50 years of alligator wrestling and animal entertainment experience.
A diverse assortment of Seminole Indian and other Native American vendors will also be selling handmade Native American arts and crafts inside Hard Rock Live, and freshly prepared traditional Seminole Indian food will be available at Seminole Okalee Indian Village.
The second annual Seminole Okalee Indian Village Pow-wow is open on Friday, May 11 from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Saturday, May 12 from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. and on Sunday, May 13 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Admission is $10 for adults (13 – 54), $8 for seniors (55+), $6 for children (5 – 12) and free for children ages four and under. Seminole Tribe of Florida members, Miccosukee Tribe of Florida members and Seminole Tribe of Florida employees are free (must show Tribal and/or employee ID). As an added incentive, one free admission will be available for moms in honor of Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 13, only, with the purchase of a regular admission ticket. Tickets will be available each day at Seminole Okalee Indian Village and at the Hard Rock Live box office.
For more information about the Seminole Okalee Indian Village Pow-wow, please contact Jennifer Osceola at 954-797-5582 or via email at jenniferosceola@semtribe.com or visit www.semtribe.com
