10th Annual American Indian Festival

Come celebrate the rich and diverse cultures of Native Americans at the 10th Annual American Indian Festival. You can learn more about the tribes in the DC, Maryland & Virginia area here. Information below is shared for your informational use only. 

Patuxent River Park American Indian Festival

LocationPatuxent River Park
16000 Croom Airport Road
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772

Admission & Parking FREE

SCHEDULEHours – 10 am – 4 pm
12 noon -Grand Entry
3 pm – Raffle Drawing

*Bring your own reusable water bottle to support our conservation efforts*

Interactive exhibits and demonstrations include: * Archery 

* Artifacts 

* Beading

* Finger weaving 

* Flint knapping 

* Genealogy 

* Hand-made tools 

* Languages 

* Live Birds of Prey display 

* Multiple Native crafts and games

* Native horsemanship

* Pre-contact life skills 

* Regalia

ACTIVITIES WITH NOMINAL FEES

• Traditional Native food and other festival favorites
• Vendors: Native made items, arts, jewelry, flutes, music and books, and more
• Horse & Pony Rides ($2), Basket Craft ($2), Design your own t-shirt ($8),
• Multiple raffles include: collectible “Pendleton” blanket, collectible “Pendleton” crib blanket, and a quality Native American flute (raffle tickets $1)

The Patuxent River Park American Indian Festival, is not what you’d call a traditional pow wow. The Festival has been created as a promotion and celebration commemorating American Indian and Alaskan Native Heritage Month. The Maryland Natural and Historical Resource Division, who hosted the festival with the Clearwater Nature Center and Watkins Nature Center, directs its attention to non-Natives, reaching out through teaching and hands-on instruction in traditional and modern Native American dancing, artisanal crafts, sports and music. Thousands have attended, eager to learn everything from weaving and archery to tips on how to research their Native American roots.

About the Patuxent River ParkSet on 7,000 acres of protected woodland and watershed, the Patuxent River Park meanders along twelve miles of the Patuxent River, creating a picture of wild natural beauty set on formerly owned Piscataway Indian lands. At the park’s Visitors Center are Indian projectile points, axe heads, and artifacts from colonial times that have been uncovered throughout the sanctuary.

Contacts (Festival Coordinators)Karen Marshall – karen.marshall@pgparks.com 301-627-6074
Devin Mills – devin.mills@pgparks.com 301-627-7755

Mark your calendar today so you don’t miss the next Patuxent River Park American Indian Festival on the third Saturday of October Upper Marlboro, Maryland.