76th Annual Navajo Nation Fair ‘Honoring Heritage’

By Tyson Hudson
Navajo Times

WINDOW ROCK – Spectators are marking their spots along the parade route on Highway 264 as the 76th Annual Navajo Nation Fair in Window Rock returns this week.

The Navajo Nation Fair’s theme is “Honoring Our Heritage: Celebrating Harvest, Livelihood and Kinship,” according to the fair website.

The fair will focus on preserving “cultural heritage,” among the Navajo, according to the Navajo Nation president’s office press release.

“We thought we’d go back and try to get back to the intent of the fair,” said Mike Halona, the Division of Natural Resources executive director.

Halona said the fair will focus on bringing people together from around the Navajo Nation to socialize and “celebrate their harvest.”

Fairgoers will get “a taste” of two different genres of music entertainment with “last minute” additions of country musician Joe Nichols and hip-hop group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.

Organizers put most of the activities “close together” to shorten the walking distance and make the fairgrounds safer, according to Halona.

Festivities began on Monday, Sept. 2, with the start of the Miss Navajo Nation sheep-butchering and traditional foods competitions.

Wednesday, Sept. 4
The fair fully starts with “Ashkii Happy” Kids Day with a focus on activities and entertainment for children. The ribbon-cutting started in the Veterans Memorial Arena.

The junior rodeo at 8 a.m. featured young cowboys and cowgirls at the Dean C. Jackson Arena. A baby contest took place on the food pavilion stage.

The 4-H Club handled check-ins for livestock at the Lorene C. Lee Pavilion. The carnival began at 6 p.m.

At the Navajo Arts and Crafts building, the Miss Navajo contest featured business interviews and traditional knowledge presentations.

Thursday, Sept. 5
The fair will honor the Navajo Nation’s older generation with an “Elder Fest.”

A celebration for Navajo elders will be held at the Annie Wauneka Arena at 9 a.m. Events for the day include a morning rodeo slack for timed events, the 4-H Club livestock show, and the first evening rodeo performance.

A free barbeque will be provided to the public, starting at noon in Navajo Square.

Friday, Sept. 6
The fair will start at 9 a.m. with a team roping jackpot at Jackson Arena. The 4-H Club will conduct an award ceremony and livestock sale. A pet presentation and a dog show will be at Navajo Square.

The powwow will also start on Friday with a grand entry starting at 7 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Arena.

Talibah & Shar will provide music entertainment at 5 p.m. The second evening rodeo performance will kick off at 7 p.m., ending with music from country star Joe Nichols starting around 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 7
The fair will be celebrating Health Day, starting with the parade along Highway 264 at 8 a.m. The fair will feature two gourd dances at noon and 5 p.m., and Joe Tohannie & the Apace Crown Dancers will perform at 5 p.m.

Miss Navajo will be crowned at 5 p.m. at Navajo Square.

There will be two Saturday rodeo performances at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., and two powwow dances at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Hip-hop group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony will close Health Day with a concert at 9:30 p.m. at the Dean C. Jackson Arena.

Sunday, Sept. 8
The fair will start with Cowboy Church at 9 a.m. The Navajo Farmers Market will open at 11 a.m. in Navajo Square. The last Gourd Dance will start at 11 a.m. in Veterans Memorial Arena.

The championship round for the rodeo starts at 1 p.m. The final grand entry for the powwow will start at 1 p.m. as well.

General admission for the fair is $10 for adults and $5 for children (6-12) and seniors (65-plus). Tickets for the rodeo/concerts at the Dean C. Jackson Arena are separate.

Admission is free on Wednesday and Thursday, but there is an admission fee for the evening rodeo on Thursday.

Parking at the fair ground lots will be $10 per vehicle.

Information: https://www.nnfair.org.

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