Immerse yourself in Native American culture. The Festival of Native American Culture is a place where friends of the Native American culture come together to share their passion.  Hosted by the Verde Valley Chapter of the Arizona Archaeological Society, the festival is a non-profit event with proceeds dedicated to the protection, preservation and interpretation of the Native American cultural heritage sites of Sedona and the Verde Valley of Arizona.

CLICK HERE for a Festival Quick Guide of activities. The complete 2010 Festival Guide is available for download by clicking HERE (PDF 1.6MB).

Native American Film Festival

In conjunction with our Film Festival, the Sedona International Film Festival will present Reel Injun by Cree filmmaker Neil Diamond on June 8. This film takes an entertaining and insightful look at the Hollywood Indian, exploring the portrayal of North American Natives through a century of cinema. The film’s producer, Christina Fon, will be present for a Q&A session following the film. Click HERE for more details.

Celebration of Native American Music and Dance

Native American music and dance are integral parts of Native American culture. We are pleased to offer a variety of opportunities to see these talented entertainers perform.

Our featured musical events include Shelley Morningsong, the 2007 Winner of the Native American Music Award for "Debut Artist of the Year," in concert on June 11. This special evening is followed by a concert on June 12 of Canyon Records recording artists. The group Estun-bah has gained quick national recognition as a leading musical ensemble. Along with performing at various schools, festivals, art markets and corporate events, Estun-bah has performed for United States First Lady Laura Bush and at the Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts, Washington DC. In addition, the evening will feature  Gabriel Ayala of the Yaqui, a master of diverse musical guitar styles. This concert will display his expressive powers in the genres of flamenco, traditional Spanish, and jazz plus compelling original compositions. Tickets for the June 11 and June 12 music concerts are available online, at the Gift Shop of the Red Rock District Visitor Center on Hwy. 179, or at the door.

In order to enjoy all the music and dance events of the June 11-12 weekend, the Poco Diablo Resort is offering a limited number of guest rooms at a special Festival rate. For more information on this opportunity, visit their special event website and enter the promotion code NAF.

Cultural Awareness Week

We are again developing a schedule of lectures and specially developed guided tours and talks, related to Native American Cultural Awareness Week. Most will be free but admittance to National Park and U.S. Forest Service facilities will require the standard daily fee, or pass such as a Red Rock Pass or Golden Eagle, Golden Age or Golden Access.

Native American Invitational Art Show

The Invitational Art show this year was a huge success. We look forward to the next show on June 4-5, 2011.