Seminole Okalee Indian Village Celebrates 50th Anniversary March 11 – 14 at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Alligator Wrestling, Anikituhwa Warrior Dancers, Canoe Racing, Arts & Crafts Competitions and Live Entertainment to Spotlight a Half Century of Native American Influence in South Florida
HOLLYWOOD, FLA. (March 4, 2010) – Seminole Okalee Indian Village will celebrate 50 years of Native American influence in South Florida March 11 – 14 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The FREE four-day showcase of Native American culture will spotlight a variety of traditional Native American activities, competitions, live entertainment and more. The festival will open at 9 a.m. each day.
Seminole Okalee Indian Village was the first eco tourism attraction for the Seminole Tribe. It provided a place for employment and a location for retail sales for the Tribe's arts and craft products. It also allowed the Tribe to showcase its culture and educate the public about the traditional lifestyles of Seminoles when they lived in the Everglades in the 1800s.
On Thursday, March 11, a variety of Seminole Indian handicrafts and artwork will be on display. These competitions, submitted in a variety of age categories, will showcase the intricate, colorful and delicate handicrafts the Seminoles Tribe has historically come to be known for. Items on display will include Seminole patchwork clothing and design, Seminole Palmetto dolls, woodwork, Sawgrass basketry and beadwork. Other traditional art mediums including mixed-media, watercolor, acrylics, ceramics and pencil and ink will demonstrate a variety of Florida Seminole Indian themes and visions.
Activity highlights for the day include an Okalee Wildlife Show, deep water alligator show, flute player Sonny Nevaquaya, the Anikituhwa Warrior Dancers, Monument Valley Dancers, Seminole Stomp Dancers and entertainers Paul Buster and the Cowbone Band and R.C North and Hybiskus.
On Friday, March 12, activities will, again, include an Okalee Wildlife Show, Deep Water Alligator Show, flute player Sonny Nevaquaya, the Three Feathers Dance Troupe, the Anikituhwa Warrior Dancers, Monument Valley Dancers, Seminole Stomp Dancers and entertainers the Cowbone Band and R.C North and Hybiskus. At 5 p.m., Little Mr. & Miss Seminole will be crowned followed by a children's clothing contest at 7:30 p.m. At 9 p.m., Seminole Superstars take the stage featuring Spencer Battiest, Zachary Battiest and Steven Billie.
Saturday, March 13 special events include a Seminole Tribal Fair, storyteller, canoe races, Indigenous at 4 p.m., a Freestyle Alligator Wrestling Competition at 6 p.m. and a spectacular synchronized fireworks display over Lake Paradise at 9 p.m. The Freestyle Alligator Wrestling Competition is open to tribal members and non tribal members. Competitors will have to prove that they have experience handling alligators. Registration closes Thursday March 11th, for more information contact James Holt at 954-826-7433.
The festival closes out on Sunday, March 14 with the Three Feathers Dance Troupe, the Anikituhwa Warrior Dancers, Monument Valley Dancers, an Okalee Wildlife Show, Freestyle Alligator Wrestling Competition and more.
Please see the attached schedule for more details.
Throughout the festival, traditional Seminole Indian food will be available for purchase as well as a variety of hand-crafted Native American arts & crafts.
Built around traditional Seminole "chickee" huts and pathways through a natural habitat emulating the Florida Everglades, it showcases up-close animal habitats and exhibits that are part of the Seminole wildlife experience, along with a prestigious collection of Seminole cultural and historical artifacts.
For more information about the Seminole Okalee Indian Village 50th Anniversary celebration, please call 954-797-5551 or visit www.okaleevillage50year.com .
About Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino provides quality guest experiences where South Floridians can play, stay, dine, and shop. Eighty-nine tables offer Blackjack, Baccarat, Mini-Baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, Three Card Poker, Texas Hold'em Bonus Poker and Let it Ride on a nearly three-acre casino floor. Play one of the more than 2,400 Vegas-style slots including the Native-American casino linked Multi-Area Progressive Jackpots and Mega Jackpots. Separate high-limit rooms for table games and slots, in addition to a non-smoking room are available for guests to enjoy. Loyal Player's Club members experience an exclusive VIP Plum Lounge and celebrity show kitchen. Convene in The Poker Room at Seminole Paradise for Texas Hold 'em, limit Texas Hold 'em, Seven Card Stud and two dollar and four dollar limit Omaha Hi Lo games. Located inside the casino is Hard Rock Café-Hollywood, part of Hard Rock's 127 globally recognized rock 'n roll themed restaurants. The Green Lodging Certified by the State of Florida, AAA, Four Diamond rated resort showcases 500 luxurious guest rooms, 16 restaurants and lounges, 40,000-square-feet of meeting room space, a European-style spa, auto salon, 22 retail shops, 14 nightclubs, Paradise Live, and Hard Rock Live. Located on State Road 7 (U.S. 441) in Hollywood, Florida. Take I-95, exit Stirling Rd. and travel west to 1 Seminole Way. For more information, call (954) 327-ROCK, 1 800-937-0010 or visit us online at www.seminolehardrockhollywood.com.
# # #
Editor's Note: We will be happy to provide a variety of photo opportunities and interviews upon request. Seminole
50th Anniversary Seminole Okalee Indian Village Festival
Schedule of Activities
Thursday, March 11, 2010
9:00 AM - Grand Entry - Invocation - Veterans - Dignitaries
9:30 AM - Okalee Wildlife Show
10:00 AM - Deep Water Alligator Show
10:30 AM - Sonny Nevaquaya – Flute Player
11:00 AM - Three Feathers Dance Troupe
11:30 AM - Anikituhwa Warrior Dancers (Cherokee Traditional)
12:00 PM - Monument Valley Dancers
12:30 PM - Seminole Stomp Dancers
1:00 PM - Okalee Wildlife Show
1:30 PM - Deep Water Alligator Show
2:00 PM - Three Feathers Dance Troupe
2:30 PM - Anikituhwa Warrior Dancers (Cherokee Traditional)
3:00 PM - Monument Valley Dancers
3:30 PM - Sonny Nevaquaya – Flute Player
4:00 PM - Cowbone Band
5:00 PM - RC North & Hybiskus
6:00 PM - Close
50th Anniversary Seminole Okalee Indian Village Festival
Schedule of Activities
Friday, March 12, 2010
9:00 AM - Grand Entry - Invocation - Veterans - Dignitaries
9:30 AM - Okalee Wildlife Show
10:00 AM - Deep Water Alligator Show
10:30 AM - Sonny Nevaquaya – Flute Player
11:00 AM - Three Feathers Dance Troupe
11:30 AM - Anikituhwa Warrior Dancers (Cherokee Traditional)
12:00 PM - Monument Valley Dancers
12:30 PM - Seminole Stomp Dancers
1:00 PM - Okalee Wildlife Show
1:30 PM - Deep Water Alligator Show
2:00 PM - Three Feathers Dance Troupe
2:30 PM - Anikituhwa Warrior Dancers (Cherokee Traditional)
3:00 PM - Monument Valley Dancers
3:30 PM - RC North & Hybiskus
4:00 PM - Cowbone Band
5:00 PM - Little Mr. & Miss Seminole Contest
7:30 PM - Clothing Contest (children)
9:00 PM - Seminole Superstars – Spencer Battiest, Zachary Battiest, Steven Billie
50th Anniversary Seminole Okalee Indian Village Festival
Schedule of Activities
Saturday, March 13, 2010
9:00 AM - Seminole Tribal Fair (Adults 18 – 65) Clothing Competition
12:00 PM - Storyteller
12:30 PM - Okalee Wildlife Show
1:00 PM - Anikituhwa Warrior Dancers
1:00 PM - Canoe Race
1:30 PM - Three Feathers Dance Troupe
2:00 PM - Monument Valley Dancers
2:30 PM - Seminole Stomp Dancers
3:00 PM - Okalee Wildlife Show
3:30 PM - Paul Buster & Cowbone Band
4:00 PM - Indigenous
4:30 PM - RC North & Hybiskus
5:00 PM - Seminole Superstars (Spencer, Zachary & Steven Billie)
6:00 PM - Freestyle Alligator Wrestling Competition
8:00 PM - competition
9:00 PM - Fireworks
9:15 PM - competition
10:00 PM - Close
50th Anniversary Seminole Okalee Indian Village Festival
Schedule of Activities
Sunday, March 14, 2010
9:00 AM - Gates open
10:00 AM - Three Feathers Dance Troupe
11:00 AM - Anikituhwa Warrior Dancers
12:00 PM - Monument Valley Dancers
12:30 PM - Okalee Wildlife Show
2:00 PM - Freestyle Alligator Wrestling Competition
4:00 PM - competition
5:00 PM - competition
6:00 PM - Closes. See You Next Year!!
