Miccosukee Indian Arts & Crafts Festival 2023
Native American culture comes alive in a four-day gathering of music, arts, and entertainment in the heart of the Florida Everglades, December 28 – 31, 2023, from 10 AM – 6 PM at the historic Miccosukee Indian Village festival grounds, 20 miles west of Krome Avenue and SW 8th Street.
Gather in the Everglades for indigenous music and dance performances, an artisan market featuring crafts and authentic cuisine, and alligator demonstrations teaching this traditional art of survival.
Airboat rides are available across the street.
You’re invited to take part in our holiday tradition with your family.
FREE shuttle service to and from Miccosukee Casino & Resort / Indian Village is available all day from 9:30 AM to 6 PM.
Some vendors may only accept cash.
Service dogs are allowed with proper documentation.
Live Entertainment
Joe Tohonnie Jr. and the White Mountain Apache Crown Dancers
Hailing from the White Mountains of Arizona, the Apache Crown Dancers present a tradition of healing drawn directly from the highest elevations of their land. Led by singer and two-time Grammy nominee Joe Tohonnie Jr., the dancers summon the mountain spirits to protect them from enemies so they may live in harmony.
Iroquois Sky Dancers
The Sky Dancers from the Six Nations Reservation in southern Ontario, Canada, perform traditional Iroquois social dances passed down from generations. Musicians create melodies and rhythms with voice and traditional Iroquois instruments, while dancers perform in stunning hand-made traditional clothing.
Native Pride Dancers
Composed of members of various Tribal nations, Native Pride Dancers’ mission is to educate, inspire, and motivate through the beauty and power of Native American music and dance. The group’s founder and artistic director, Larry Yazzie, is a world-champion fancy dancer and member of the Meskwaki Nation.
Lighting Boy Foundation
The Lightning Boy Foundation is a nonprofit organization in Northern New Mexico that provides traditional hoop dance instruction and other dance programming to youth ages two and up. Their mission is to nurture and build confidence and integrity through culture and artistic expression.
Ameyal Mexican Cultural Organization
The word Ameyal means “spring water” in the Nahuatl language. The organization is led by Cecilia Ortega, an Indigenous artist and practitioner passionate about showcasing Mexico’s traditional art forms. Ameyal Mexican Cultural Organization is a people-powered organization of multidisciplinary artists and families that celebrate Mexican culture, focus on community work, and empower women and Indigenous and Afro-Mexican people. Ameyal advocates for Mexican and Indigenous cultures, creating a safe and inclusive community, cultivating artistic expression, and facilitating healing and empowerment through art and culture with our belief, ‘Art Heals.’
Dallas Goldtooth
A cast member of the television series Reservation Dogs, Dallas Goldtooth is a writer, actor, comedian, and environmentalist of Mdewakanton, Dakota, and Dine heritage. He co-founded the Indigenous comedy group The 1491s and is a Dakota culture and language teacher. He is also a poet, traditional artist, and powwow emcee.
Miccosukee Fashion Show
Miccosukee seamstresses create vibrant patchwork designs inspired by elements of nature. These colorful garments were first created in the early 1900s as a way to express their heritage. Tribal members wear patchwork for daily activities as well as ceremonial events. The Miccosukee Fashion Show highlights the evolution of this art form as members walk the runway in elegantly crafted patterns adorning skirts, capes, dresses, and jackets.
Alligator Demonstrations
Wrestling alligators was a form of survival, a hunting technique used by the Miccosukee when they first inhabited the Florida Everglades. Today, it has become a popular attraction that educates the public about these powerful reptiles essential to this unique ecosystem. Our alligator wrestlers will show you how they handle these wild creatures in a jaw-dropping performance that will have you on the edge of your seat!
