2019 Lumbee Homecoming Festival & Powwow
Join the festivities at the 51st Annual Lumbee Homecoming Festival & Powwow on June 28—July 6, 2019 at various event venues in Pembroke, North Carolina. Each summer, the Lumbee Homecoming Festival celebrates their heritage, drawing thousands for a week of events like the Lumbee Games tournaments; Miss, Ms. and Little Miss Lumbee pageants; cookouts, concerts, the Lumbee Homecoming Powwow (aka AISES Pow Wwow) and more. While the biggest day is the last Saturday with the 5k run, pageants, parade, market and pow wow, each day you will find activities and events that celebrate various aspects of Lumbee culture.
Lumbee Homecoming Festival & Powwow
First Weekend
The Lumbee Homecoming Festival kicks off at 6 p.m. Friday with the annual Julian T. Pierce Memorial Art Dinner held at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke Events continue the next day, at 6:30 a.m. Saturday with Pembroke’s annual Bicycle Fun Ride beginning at the LRDA office complex and traveling to the Robeson County Department of Social Services office and back. Sponsored by the Pembroke Kiwanis Club, the 20-mile ride is in honor of Joel Garth Locklear Sr. Other ‘first’ Saturday’s events include a golf tournament at Pinecrest Country Club and the Lumbee Veterans Military Ball beginning at 6 p.m. at Porter Plaza.
Weekday Activities
More than 30,000 Lumbees are expected to be in Pembroke during the week visiting with family and participating in the variety of homecoming events. Refer to the Lumbee Homecoming Festival schedule below for a list of all the ‘goings on’. Monday through the closing Saturday (“Second Weekend”) food vendors and arts and crafts of all kinds will be found at the Outdoor Lumbee Market on Prospect Road.
Pageants
Pageants are another big crowd-pleaser, and this year should be no exception. The LRDA-sponsored pageants are all being held at the Givens Arts Center on Wednesday (Little & Junior Miss Pageantsa at 6:30 p.m.) and Friday (Teen & Miss Lumbee Pageant at 6:30 p.m.). In addition, the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina is holding a Miss Senior Lumbee Pageant on Monday at Robeson Community College.
Second Saturday: Closing Day)
The biggest day of the Lumbee Homecoming Festival will be the second Saturday. The events kick off at 7:15 a.m. with a 5K run and fun walk sponsored by the Pembroke Kiwanis Club. The race starts at the Southeastern Fitness Center on West Third Street and will honor former Congressman Mike McIntyre and his efforts toward full federal recognition for the tribe. Following the race, a ceremony will be held honoring McIntyre at 1 p.m. in the Annex Building at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke. The ceremony is open to the public and free to attend.
The popular Lumbee Homing Parade begins at 10 a.m. that day, followed by the AISES Powwow (aka American Indian Science and Engineering Society powwow or Lumbee Homecoming Powwow) beginning at noon on the quad at UNCP. The week-long celebration closes out with an outdoor gospel concert beginning at 6 p.m. at the LRDA office complex, followed by a fireworks show at 9 p.m.
Closing Day (Second Saturday) Event Detail
Lumbee Homecoming Festival & Powwow Mini-Gallery
Lumbee Outdoor Market
The village of arts, crafts and food vendors has been in full force since Monday, and continues today and Saturday starting at 9 a.m. at the Lumbee Regional Development Association. Work up an appetite wandering through rows of American Indian jewelry, pine needle baskets, silversmith wares and handcrafted goods by nearly 100 vendors from across the region. Then grab a bite at one of 30 food trucks and vendors serving ethnic and modern cuisine. throughout the festival.
Parade
The biggest crowd of the weekend will be lining Prospect Road starting at 10 a.m. Saturday. The parade of floats, bands, pageant winners and American Indian representatives has been known to draw as many as 20,000 spectators, said James Hardin, the executive director of LRDA. Many camp out for prime spots along the route past the University of North Carolina at Pembroke campus, so get there early.
Lumbee Homecoming Powwow (AISES Powwow)
After the parade, make your way to the UNCP campus to witness the AISES Powwow (aka American Indian Science and Engineering Society powwow or Lumbee Homecoming Powwow). More than 10 tribes will be represented in the traditional ceremony on the quad at noon. Experience the sights and sounds of the powwow at the circle of dancers and drummers dressed in vibrant American Indian regalia.
Gospel Concert
The homecoming celebration closes out with live gospel in the great outdoors. Local groups the Oxendines, Reverend Eddie Carter & Family, Nadine Patrick, A-New Saddletree Youth Choir and Chosen Generation will perform at the LRDA office complex beginning at 6 p.m.
Fireworks Show
Once the last gospel note has faded, stick around for a grand finale to rival the weekend’s other celebration — the Lumbee Fireworks Sky Show lights up Robeson County at 9 p.m.
Lumbee Homecoming Festival Schedule (tentative)
Friday (first)
Annual Julian T. Pierce Memorial Art Dinner: UNC-P Annex (6:00 pm- 10:00 pm) * Ticket price and additional information.
Saturday (first)
Pembroke’s Annual Bicycle Fun Ride 6:30 a.m. (LRDA Office Complex) LRDA Office Complex to Department of Social Services & Return (20 Miles)
Golf Tournament: (Pinecrest County Club) Registration will be from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.; Tee Off 9:00 a.m. Lunch will be served 12:00 (PineCrest County Club)
Lumbee Warriors Veteran’s Military Ball (Porter Plaza..Reception 6:00 p.m.) ($65.00)*
Sunday
Gospel Sing – 6:00 p.m. Berea Bapist Church.. (Free to Public)
Lumbee Games (Wrestling Championships) Registration is 12:30 p.m. (UNC-P) *
Farewell Tea – 3:00 p.m. Berea Baptist Church
Monday
Lumbee Outdoor Market (Monday-Saturday) 9:00 am. Until (Food, Arts, or Crafts) 636 Prospect Rd.
Lumbee Games: (Swimming Tournament) 6:30 pm UNC-P Pool*
Lumbee Tribe of NC Senior Ms. Lumbee Pageant* Robeson Community College Auditorium — Doors open @ 5:30 pm. Show starts @ 6:00 pm.
Tuesday
Lumbee Outdoor Market (Monday-Saturday) 9:00 am Until (Food, Arts, & Crafts) – 636 Prospect Rd.
Wednesday
Lumbee Outdoor Market (Monday-Saturday) 9:00 am. Until (Food, Arts, or Crafts) 636 Prospect Rd.
Lumbee Games: (8 Ball) Registration is 9:00 a.m. (UNC-P Game Room)*
Elder’s Luncheon – 12:00 p.m. Southeastern NC Agricultural Center US 74
Little & Junior Miss Lumbee Pageant – 6:30 p.m. (GPA-C)
Thursday
Lumbee Outdoor Market (Monday-Saturday) 9:00 am Until (Food, Arts, & Crafts)– 636 Prospect Rd.
Lumbee Book Talk.. UNCP Bookstore (Joan L Blackwell..Patricia Chavis..Jo Jo Brooks Shiflett) 2:00 p.m.*
Lumbee Games (Tennis Tournament) 5:00 p.m. UNC-P Varsity Tennis Courts *
Summer Jam – (7:00 – 10:00) Milton R. Hunt Memorial Park Free Admission *
Friday
Lumbee Outdoor Market (Monday-Saturday) 9:00 Until (Food, Arts, & Crafts) – 636 Prospect Rd.
Lumbee Games (Basketball 3 on 3 Tournament) Tournament begins at 9:00 a.m. (UNC-P)*
State of the Tribe address at the Pembroke Boys and Girls Club (12:00) p.m.
Teen & Miss Lumbee Pageant – 6:30 pm (GPA-C)
Saturday (second)
Lumbee Outdoor Market (Monday-Saturday) 9:00 am Until (Food, Arts, & Crafts) – 636 Prospect Rd.
5KRun/Fun Walk (Kiwanis) (Southeastern Fitness Center) Pembroke
Registration: 5:30 am – 6:45 am Race Starts @ 7:15 am
Car Show 8:00 am – 3:00 pm (Prospect Rd.)
Parade (636 Prospect Rd.) – 10:00 am
AISES Lumbee Homecoming Powwow – 12:00 pm (UNC-P Quad) *
Ambasssadors Coronation at AISES Pow-Wow 12:30 pm. (UNC-P)
5K Run/Fun Walk Honoree: TBA – 1:00 pm. (UNC-P Annex)
Outdoor Gospel Concert – 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm (LRDA Office Complex)
Lumbee Fireworks Sky Show – 9:00 pm. (LRDA Office Complex)
* Not an LRDA Sponsored Event
Mark your calendar today so you don’t miss the next Lumbee Homecoming Festival & Powwow at various event venues in Pembroke, North Carolina.
Tags: Lumbee Homecoming Festival, Lumbee Homecoming Powwow, Lumbee Homecoming Pow Wow