Traditional Games are a big part of the annual celebration that features a parade, children's activities, art show, traditional food cook-off and more.
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The 60th Cherokee National Holiday, Aug. 31 and Sept. 1-2 in Tahlequah, will showcase several traditional Cherokee games that visitors can either watch or play. This year’s roster includes two games of stickball, a cornstalk shoot, horseshoes, blowguns and marbles.
Visitors can compete in or watch the ancient sport of stickball at two locations during this year’s Holiday. A social game pitting the men against the women players will take place Friday at 5:30 p.m. on the ball field at the Male Seminary Recreation Center, 1501 Graham Ave. Players can bring their own sticks and a limited supply of sticks will be available for those who don’t have their own but would like to play. Stickball is a physical game similar to lacrosse in which competitors hurl a ball at a target on a pole to score points. Additionally, a competitive men’s game will be held Saturday at the Sequoyah Schools football field, 17091 S. Muskogee Ave., starting at 9 p.m. For more information, call 918-453-5221 or email
The Cornstalk Shoot, a traditional Cherokee game that showcases bow and arrow points made from natural materials, will be held on Saturday, Sept. 1 and Sunday, Sept. 2 just west of the tribe’s main complex, 17675 S. Muskogee Ave. Registration will begin at 7 a.m. both days. Archers can participant in any of the categories, which include the primitive shoot, Cherokee traditional longbow, youth ages 6-10 and 11-14, recurve-laminates, community traditional and the bow shoot. The entry fee is $6 per competitor. Awards will be given to first, second and third place in each category. For additional information please contact Charolette Jackson at 918-456-5482, ext. 237.
Another popular game played often in Cherokee communities is horseshoes. A horseshoe pitch will start Saturday, Sept. 1 at 9 a.m. west of the main tribal complex. Contestants may bring a teammate or show up alone and draw a partner. The entry fee is $5 per tournament, and contestants need to enter about 15 minutes prior to the competition. For more information contact Jody Slover at 918-822-2428.
Cherokee blowguns are typically made of river cane, three to nine feet long, and have traditionally been used for hunting and in warfare. At 9 a.m. on Saturday, individual marksmen will compete at the Cherokee Heritage Center, 21192 S. Keeler Dr. For more information, call 918-453-5544.
The game of Cherokee marbles has been played for the last 1,200 years. It involves as much strategy as it does accuracy in throwing. The playing field is about 100 feet long and contains five holes. Players must toss their billiard-ball-sized marbles into holes that are about two inches in diameter while knocking the opposing players’ marbles out of the way. A five-day marbles tournament will take place at Clouds Creek from 6-10 p.m. starting Aug. 27. The top four teams will then advance to the finals on Saturday, Sept. 1 at the Cherokee Heritage. Contestants must enter between 6-10 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 18 at Clouds Creek. For more information or for directions call Phil King at 918-837-1940.
On Sunday Sept. 2, communities will match their representatives against each other to see what town produces the best sportsmen and women in marbles, horseshoes, cornstalk shoot and blowguns, as the finals of Cherokee Nation’s community games are held. The community games playoffs will take place west of the Cherokee Nation complex, starting at 10 a.m. For more information contact Lou Slagle at 918-453-5544 or
Holiday Event Schedule
Aug. 31
Art Show, 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., Armory Building
Arts & Crafts, 10 a.m., Cherokee Heritage Center
Arts & Crafts, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., West of Tribal Complex
Arts & Crafts, 5 p.m. to 12 a.m., Cultural Grounds
Bingo, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., West of Tribal Complex
Cherokee National Choir, 6:30 p.m., Armory Building
Children’s Fun Days, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., West of Tribal Complex
Golf Tournament, 7:30 a.m., Cherokee Trails Golf Course
Gospel Singing, 6 p.m., West of Tribal Complex
Intertribal Powwow, 5 p.m., Cultural Grounds
Quilt Show, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sequoyah Old Gym
Softball Tournament, 6 p.m. to 1 a.m., Sequoyah Softball Fields
Stickball Game, 5:30 p.m., Markoma Field
Three-on-Three Basketball Tournament, 5 p.m., Markoma Gym
Sept. 1
Art Show, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Armory Building
Arts & Crafts, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Courthouse Square
Arts & Crafts, 11 a.m., Cherokee Heritage Center
Arts & Crafts, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., West of Tribal Complex
Arts & Crafts, 2 p.m. to 12 a.m., Cultural Grounds
Bingo, 1 p.m., West of Tribal Complex
Blowgun Contest, 1 p.m., Cherokee Heritage Center
Cherokee Calendar Signing, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Gift Shop Lobby
Cherokee Cultural & Traditional Activities, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Across the street from Armory Building
Cherokee Families & Communities, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Across the street from Armory Building
Cherokee National Holiday Parade, 9:30 a.m., Downtown
Cherokee National Youth Choir, 8 a.m., Downtown
Cherokee National Youth Choir, 10:30 a.m., Courthouse Square
Cherokee National Youth Choir, 2 p.m., Armory Building
Cherokee National Youth Choir, 4 p.m., Sequoyah’s “The Place Where They Play”
Children’s Fishing Derby, 7:30 a.m. to noon, Pond East of Tribal Complex
Children’s Fun Days, noon to 11 p.m., West of Tribal Complex
CN Complex Open House, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tribal Complex
Cornstalk Shoot Competition, 7:30 a.m., West Complex
Elders Fun Day, noon to 6 p.m., TsaLaGi Community Room
5K Run, 7:30 a.m., East of Tribal Complex
Fiddler’s Contest, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Talking Leaves Job Corps Gym
Golf Tournament, 7:30 a.m., Cherokee Trails Golf Course
Gospel Singing, 4 p.m., West of Tribal Complex
History Exhibit, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., NSU Seminary Hall
Horseshoe Pitch Competition, 9 a.m., West of Tribal Complex
Intertribal Powwow, 2 p.m., Cultural Grounds
Living Treasures Awards, noon, Courthouse Square
Marble Tournament Finals, 9 a.m., Cherokee Heritage Center
Miss Cherokee Official Crowning, noon, Courthouse Square
Nancy Ward Reception, 2 p.m., Tribal Council Chambers
Quilt Show, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sequoyah Old Gym
Seminary Hall Tours, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., NSU Seminary Hall
Softball Tournament, 9 a.m. to 1 a.m., Sequoyah Softball Fields
State of Nation Address, 11:30 a.m., Courthouse Square
Stickball Game, 9 p.m., Sequoyah Football Field
Three-on-Three Basketball Tournament, 9 a.m., Markoma Gym
Traditional Indian Food Cook-off, 5 p.m., West of Tribal Complex
Veterans Reception, 4 p.m., Sequoyah’s “The Place Where They Play”
Sept. 2
Art Show, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Armory Building
Arts & Crafts, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., West of Tribal Complex
Bingo, 1 p.m., West of Tribal Complex
Car Show, 4 p.m., Cherokee Casino Tahlequah
Children’s Fun Days, noon to 11 p.m., West of Tribal Complex
Free Feed, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Sequoyah Cafeteria
Golf Tournament, 7:30 a.m., Cherokee Trails Golf Course
History Exhibit, noon to 5 p.m., NSU Seminary Hall
Quilt Show, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Sequoyah Old Gym
Softball Tournament, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sequoyah Softball Fields
Sunday Morning Worship, 10 a.m. to noon, Sequoyah Schools Chapel
Traditional Indian Games Playoff, 1 p.m., West of Tribal Complex
For more information see www.cherokee.org
Thursday, April 25, 2024
Cherokee Holiday: Traditional Games & Event Schedule
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- Written by: Cherokee Nation Communications Office
- Parent Category: Life
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