For five years running the city of Chandler has brought Native American culture to the forefront of its fall events lineup. This weekend’s Indian Art Market features three days of food, jewelry, and art native to tribes throughout the Southwest. Each day also hosts traditional tribal song and dance. Alex and Nick Maldonado of the Pascua Yaqui Nation play both contemporary and traditional music, flutist Eldred Matt of the San Carlos Apache Nation performs with traditional drumming group Blu Thunder, and singer and dancer Palmer Lamakema closes out the weekend with the Nakwawistiwa Dance troupe.
Keeping with highlighting heritage, immediately following Saturday’s market is the 2013 Miss Indian Arizona pageant, a 52-year-old scholarship program sponsored by the Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona.
The three-day festival begins at 3 p.m. Friday, October 11 through 4 p.m. Sunday, October 13, at A.J. Chandler Park, 3 South Arizona Avenue. Times vary, admission is free. Visit www.chandleraz.gov/indianaz for more.
Fri., Oct. 11; Sat., Oct. 12; Sun., Oct. 13, 12-4 p.m., 2013