SUMMIT STATION - Visitors to the Schuylkill County Fairgrounds this holiday weekend can experience Native American dances and food from Mexico City.
The second annual Two Moons Memorial Pow Wow is scheduled today through Monday. The Pow Wow will open at 10 a.m. every day.
"There really is no closing time. People can stay as long as they like," said Amy Salas, a member of the Ojibwy tribe.
Cost is $7 for adults and $4 for children 6 to 12. Admission is free for children 5 and under. For the entire weekend, tickets are $15 per adult and $10 for children 6 and older. Today's event is a social day and entrance to the event is free.
The Ojibwy tribe reservation is in Wisconsin but Salas lives in Pottsville with her husband, Cisco Salas, a Pawnee American.
"There are many different nations of Native Americans that are going to be there," Salas said Thursday.
In all, 400 to 500 Native Americans are expected to attend, including the Sioux, Mohawk, Cherokee, Lenape and Micmac tribes, Salas said.
Visitors can meet members of the tribes and buy items from vendors, such as T-shirts, walking canes, pottery and food.
Foods will include srybread, which is "almost a combination with a fasnacht and a funnel cake," Salas said, and a dessert called wojohapi, a mixture of seven different berries made into a pudding.
Previously, the event had been held at Shartlesville Park, Berks County, for 15 years but the popularity of the event caused organizers to find a new location.
Salas said she has been to the fair, examined the layout of the grounds and liked what she saw.
This is the second year for the event at the fairgrounds.
Her father, Cliff Two Moons, a Ojibwy American, was the founder of the event. He died in 2002.
"The event is a way to honor loved ones that have died," Salas said.
Dancing starts at noon each day and ends about 7 p.m. Saturday, 6 p.m. Sunday and about 6 p.m. Monday.
Musical acts Spirit Wing and Terry Strongheart will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday.
The Aztec Dancers from Mexico City will perform at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Everyone is invited to attend to event and experience a different culture.
"We want them to see what a Pow Wow is about," Salas said.