Choctaw Indian Fair

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The Choctaw Indian Fair is held annually the second week in July in Philadelphia, Mississippi, which is north of Meridian, Mississippi on highway 19. For centuries, the Mississippi Choctaws have gathered at the ripening of the first corn. This gathering was called "The New Corn Ceremony" or "Green Crn Festival". The present day Choctaw Indian Fair has its roots in this ancient celebration. The fair has long been a time for Choctaws to gather and pay homage to their traditions and heritage but it has also emerged as an opportunity for the tribe to welcome visitors to the reservation and share their ways of life. Choctaw ancestors have left behind a rich legacy that includes: Basketry, clothing, drumming, hunting, legends, quilting, striking sticks, beadwork, foods, language, pottery, and stickball. The first Choctaw Indian Fair was held in 1949, which means they will be having their 60th anniversary this year. However, they didn't have the first princess pageant until 1955, in which Patsy Sam (Buffington) became the first official princess. The pageant is held on Wednesday Night. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday Nights, they will have a country music concert. I don't know who's going to appear which night but Marty Stuart and Connie Smith are going to be there one night. Marty Stuart is originally from Philadelphia, Mississippi, btw. Also, Clay Walker is going to be there one night and I don't remember who's going to be there the next night. The fair starts on July the 8th and goes through the 11th. I got to go to the fair in 1999 when they had their 50th anniversary. They have different tribes of Indians to come from all over the united states to sell their crafts, t-shirts, do their dances, demonstrate their Indian flutes, do other demonstrations, sell foods, etc. You get a chance to try Indian fry bread, which I think is good. It's especially good with confectioners' sugar on it. I got a chance to dance with the Indians, as a matter of fact, lol. They had this one dance where the men could pick a woman out of the audience they wanted to dance with and I got picked. I don't dance but it was a lot of fun! I also went to the princess pageant the first night I got there. That was the first princess pageant I had ever been to and I really enjoyed that. I also went to a stickball game one night. That as very interesting to watch. It's very simple to play but it's very dangerous! One guy got hurt! They also have rides at this fair, such as the tilt-a-whirl, ferris wheel, zipper, scrambler,swings, and I can't remember what all. They didn't have a roller coaster, though, and I thought that was kind of strange. I love roller coaster rides! This ferris wheel was kind of unusual because it had bucket seats, if you know what I mean. It could seat four people, two across from each other. I enjoyed riding it. As for the concerts they had during this time, some of you know that I got to see Billy Ray Cyrus one night. The next night, Lorrie Morgan was there and I went to see her. I came home the next day because I had tickets to see Billy Ray again on Saturday Night down in Oakman, Alabama, which is 15 miles south of where I live. The country music concerts didn't start until the '60s when they had acts like Chet Atkins, Lester Flatt, Merle Travis, etc. They started having paid acts in the '70s. I can't remember who all they had then but Jerry Reed is one that I remember. Kathy.