Indian Summer

Feathers, buckskin and beads—all of these will be on display at Oklahoma City's annual Red Earth Festival, one of North America's largest native cultural events. And it's fitting that the festival is held in Oklahoma, home to one of the largest Native American populations in the U.S. Cherokee, Cheyenne and Choctaw are just some of the 100 or so tribes that gather at State Fair Park for this massive powwow from June 3 to 5.

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Traditional crafts, storytelling and painting are on show, as well as over 1,500 performers in the women's elegant southern buckskin dance and the men's more strenuous war dance. More than 20,000 Indians and tourists attend to watch elders conduct rites—in the understated yet powerful gourd dance, men pay tribute to the warrior spirit by shaking rattles and lifting their heels to a hypnotic drumbeat. "They're not just performing for the crowd, but conducting ancient rituals," says Connie Hart Yellowman, director of the Red Earth Festival. "It's a time to socialize for Native Americans. Some people haven't seen each other since last year's powwow." Red Earth honors Native American culture—but it's also just plain good fun. tel: (1-405) 948 6807; www.redearth.org