The youngest Citizen Potawatomi tribal members will have numerous activities to choose from as the 2022 Family Reunion Festival gets underway in Shawnee, Oklahoma. First time attendees may not be aware of the variety of activities offered, said CPN Child Development Center Director Donnette Littlehead.
Friday
Friday kicks off with arts and crafts at the South Reunion Hall from 9-11:30 a.m.
“We’ll have painted necklaces, God’s eyes, dream catchers,” Littlehead said. “We make it age appropriate so even the littlest ones can do it.”
If any parents or grandparents feel like joining in, Littlehead encourages family participation.
“Anybody’s welcome to come,” she said. “We even have the elders that come and like to make the arts and crafts themselves. So, it’s for everybody.”
Swimmers will be able to cool off at the pool, located at the Child Development Center, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. CPN employees as well as lifeguards will be on hand to watch over the swimmers.
“We would like all the younger children to use the swimming pool at the powwow grounds. We’d like the older children to use the (larger pool at the) daycare because it’s 9 feet deep,” she said.
New this year is a splash pad, located on the powwow grounds, something Littlehead believes will be popular among both the young and young-at-heart.
After a lunch break from noon to 1 p.m., arts and crafts re-open from 1-4 p.m. at the South Reunion Hall.
The South Reunion Hall will host chess and checkers tournaments at 1 p.m. The coloring contest gets underway at the same time. Registration for the coloring contest closes at 2 p.m.
Participants 16 years and up can enter the pool tournament, which starts at 1 p.m. Registration is located south of FireLake Discount Foods, and ends at 12:30 p.m.
The all-ages Dance Under the Stars event also features a dance contest from 7-11 p.m. Registration is located south of FireLake Discount Foods.
Saturday
Saturday features arts and crafts at the South Reunion Hall from 9 a.m. to noon.
The pool located at the Child Development Center is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
After a lunch break from noon to 1 p.m., arts and crafts re-open from 1-4 p.m. at the South Reunion Hall.
The 3-on-3 basketball tournament tips off at 9 a.m. at the Child Development Center. Both boys and girls aged from 7 to 14 years may compete.
Sunday
As the final day of the 2022 Festival begins, arts and crafts will be open from 9-11:30 a.m. at the South Reunion Hall.
Littlehead and her employees are excited to welcome Tribal members home. They’ve missed catching up with familiar faces and meeting new people these past two years.
“I tell you, my employees and myself, we all love it,” she said. “We love to just enjoy the festival with the children that come from all over. We meet so many people, and it’s just so wonderful. We enjoy it so much. We really do.”
Schedule subject to change. A complete schedule of activities will be included in the Festival registration packet.