Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

Western Carolina University (20) View all

Cherokee Indian Fair grounds

  • wcu_cherokee_traditions-658.jp2
  • This photograph shows the original site of annual Cherokee Indian Fair. The fair was originally held in Big Cove, beginning in 1914, later moving to the fairgrounds in Cherokee. The Cherokee Indian Fair is an event that has historically been an important social gathering in the life of the Cherokee community and a significant draw to tourists. The fair included carnival rides and vendors of traditional Cherokee food. Performances by the Cherokee people of various talents and skills were another feature of the fair: stickball, singing, Cherokee dances, and demonstrations of crafts like spinning, pottery making, weaving, and basket making. One of the main functions of the fair was to sponsor craft competitions that provided a showcase for Cherokee crafts. A tradition that continues today at the annual Cherokee Indian Fair, the Cherokee display a wide variety of high quality work.