Printer Friendly Version - Hammonassett Festival Will Celebrate Nature and Native American Heritage

Wade Fernandez of the Menominee Nation in Wisconsin will share his music at the ninth annual Hammonassett Festival at the Guilford Fairgrounds in early October. Fernandez has been sharing his musical art for more than 30 years as an international award-winning musician, songwriter, recording artist, and producer. Photo courtesy of Wade Fernandez

The ninth annual Hammonassett Festival will return to the Guilford Fairgrounds, 111 Lovers Lane, Guilford to honor the environment and Native American cultures during a two-day celebration on Saturday, Oct. 5, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 6, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“We invite you to join us for a weekend of fun, celebration, education, and entertainment,” says festival chair Barbara Hanson. “We chose ‘Mother Earth is in Our Hands’ as this year’s theme. We wish to express our gratitude for Mother Earth’s many gifts and learn ways to care for them.”

“Mother Earth is the source of all life and our greatest teacher,” she says.

Darlene Kascak, of the Schaghticoke Native American Tribe and an education coordinator at The Institute for American Indian Studies, says Mother Nature “teaches us that all things must live in harmony. We must respect and care for our Mother, in order to provide for the seven generations that are coming.”

Each day of the festival will begin with a Native American prayer and smudging ceremony led by Allan Saunders of the Mohegan followed by multiple appearances of these featured performers:

• Wade Fernandez of the Menominee Nation in Wisconsin has been sharing his musical art for more than 30 years as an international award-winning musician, songwriter, recording artist, and producer.

• Erin Lamb-Meeches of the Schaghticoke and the Native Nations Dance Troupe. The Native American dancers will gather in the dance circle to share their dances and interpretations, accompanied by the Native drum group Pine Tree Singers.

• The Chankas of Peru will share the Scissors Dance, a traditional highland Andean ritual competition. Each dancer will showcase his repertoire of acrobatics, gymnastics, aerial jumps, and intricate footwork.

Allan Madahbee (Ojibway) will emcee the festival and will also play Native American flute and guitar. Around the grounds, under tents, and in the Butterly Building will be an array of vendors, exhibitors, and educators. There will be environmental exhibits and wildlife shows, an expanded children’s area, the New England Atlatl Championship, and a variety of food choices.

The festival is presented by the Friends of Hammonasset, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides public environmental awareness programs and serves as an advocate for Hammonasset Beach State Park.

Find more information including ticket prices and schedule of events at Facebook.com/HammonassettFestival. For vendor/exhibitor information, email hammonassettfestival@gmail.com. (Note: Variations in spelling of Hammonasset are correct. Two “t”s are used for the festival to reflect an older variation of the spelling.)