Choctaw Indian Fair opens in two weeks
The 71st annual Choctaw Indian Fair officially starts in two weeks with a long list of events and activities planned for the four-day event.
But the fun begins next week,
The Fair is held at the Pearl River Community on the Choctaw Indian Reservation in Choctaw.
A favorite part of the Fair is the World Series of Stickball, which actually starts Wednesday.
“On July 7, we are going to open it up with a ceremony honoring our stickball coaches and players who have passed on,” said Misty Brescia, director of the office of Public Relations for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. “That starts at 7 p.m. Then we are doing two exhibition games afterwards, a women’s 35-and-over and a men’s 50-years-and over.”
The World Series Stickball tournament has three adult divisions - Men’s, Women’s, Men’s 35-and-over, and two youth divisions - Tulli Okchi Ishko (14-17) and Pushmataha (10-13). Stickball will continue until the Saturday, July 17, with the men’s championship game on the final night of the Fair.
The Fair officially gets underway Wednesday, July 14, at the Amphitheater with the Opening Ceremonies at 6 p.m., followed by the Choctaw Indian Princess pageant starting at 7 p.m. The title of Choctaw Indian Princess is a very prestigious title that holds many responsibilities. The princess serves as an ambassador for the Tribe for one year. During her reign, she travels around the country, many times with the Tribal Chief, to promote awareness of the Tribe.
As always, there is professional entertainment at the Amphitheater. The acts are as follows: Thursday - Jimmie Allen at 8:30 p.m.; Friday - Zach Williams at 8:30 p.m.; and, Saturday - Brett Young at 8:30 p.m.
A new event this year will be the CIF Cornhole Tournament. According to Internet sources, cornhole (also known regionally as bags, sack toss, or bean bag toss) is a lawn game in which players take turns throwing 16 ounce bags of corn kernels at a raised platform (board) with a hole in the far end. A bag in the hole scores 3 points, while one on the board scores 1 point. Play continues until a team or player reaches or exceeds the score of 21 by means of cancellation scoring. There will be a tribal tournament on Friday starting at 10 a.m. On Saturday, there will be an open tournament, also starting at 10 a.m.
The carnival rides on the midway open July 8 and will run throughout the Fair. There will be other events such at the Rez Run on Saturday starting at 7 a.m. and the Iron Warrior competition. There are exhibitions highlighting Choctaw history and culture, tribal dances and Shawn’s Discovery Zone.
For more information, check the internet at www.choctawindianfair.com or www.choctaw.org.