Parents, don't you just feel righteously smug when you can take the kids to something that is educational, but they think they're just having fun?
One such teachable family outing is coming up this weekend at Red Clay State Park in Cleveland, Tennessee. The annual intertribal Red Clay Pow Wow will be held Saturday and Sunday at the historic park, sponsored by Friends of Red Clay and Native American Services of Tennessee.
There will be American Indian youth and adult dancers and drummers competing for prize money. Among the dance competitions will be the chicken dance - yes, that one, often part of wedding receptions - and jingle dancing, which is a lovely tinkling sound made by bell-like decorations sewn onto clothing that move and jingle as the dancers perform.
There will be vendors from different tribes, storytellers, crafts booths as well as demonstrations in basketry, bow-and-arrow crafts, pottery and painting.
Best of all, what visitors will see is authentic, not the stereotypical TV or movie characterizations.
A master of ceremonies will interpret what is happening so visitors understand the meaning and importance of the dances. Pow wow participants will pose for pictures, but guests must ask their permission first.
One of the most impressive events is the Grand Entry in authentic attire, which will take place at 1 p.m. each day.
There will be limited seating on hay bales, so park staff suggests visitors bring folding chairs.
FESTIVALS THIS WEEKEND
OCT. 24
* Bird & Barn Sale: Black Fox Farms, 2724 Varnell Road, Cleveland, Tenn., 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday, $10 or $25, benefits Project Free 2 Fly. https://projectfree2fly.com.
OCT. 25-27
* Appalachian Brew, Stew & Que Festival: Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, 1311 Music Hall Road, Hiawassee, Ga., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, $35 if purchased online in advance, $40 at gate; beer festival with craft breweries, arts and crafts area, music. 706-896-4191.
* Boogie & Brews: McCoy Farms & Gardens, 1604 Taft Highway, Signal Mountain, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, free, kids and dogs encouraged to dress in costume for contests, games, food, hay rides, Cobweb Corner market. karenstone@waldenhouse.com.
* Burning Leaf Festival: Cloudland Community Park, 284 Gadsden Ave., Menlo, Ga., 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, free, arts and crafts, music, children's activities. https://cloudlandcommunity.wixsite.com/park/burning-leaf-festival.
* Chiaha Harvest Fair: Ridge Ferry Park, 363 Riverside Parkway NE, Rome, Ga., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, $5 adults, $4 senior adults and students, $1 children under 12; arts and crafts, music, kids activities. https://www.chiaha.org/plan-your-visit.
* Cherohala Skyway Festival: Charles Hall Museum, 229 Cherohala Skyway, Tellico Plains, Tenn., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, free; food and craft vendors, music, Appalachian craft demonstrations, wagon-train rides. 423-253-2111.
* Community Fall Festival: Dowdy Park, Summerville, Ga., 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday, $10 wristband for unlimited games, cake walk for $1, concessions sold. Lyerly, Menlo and Leroy Massey schools partner with Summerville Main Street for community festival; school kings and queens announced at noon. 706-859-0900. ext. 1337.
* Jack-o'-Lantern Jamboree: Town square in Jasper, Tenn., 4-7 p.m. CDT Saturday, free admission, concessions sold, hosted by Jasper Lions Club. jaspertnlionsclub@gmail.com.
* Mountain Makins Festival: Rose Center, 442 W. Second St., Morristown, Tenn., 10 a.m.-5 pm. Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, $5 per day, festival of Appalachian craft. https://www.rosecenter.org/mountain-makins.
* PumpkinFest: Courthouse Square, Dayton, Tenn., 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, free; food and craft vendors, movie in the park, entertainment. www.mainstreetdayton.org
* Red Bank Community Fall Festival: Red Bank City Park on Dayton Boulevard, 4-7 p.m. Sunday, free, games, candy, music. pastorkensauer@gmail.com.
* Red Clay Pow Wow and Festival: Red Clay State Park, Cleveland, Tenn., 10 a.m.-dusk Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, grand entry at 1 p.m. each day, $10 per carload per day. Intertribal pow wow with American Indian dancers, storytellers, musicians and vendors. https://www.crazycrow.com/site/event/red-clay-pow-wow-2.
OCT. 30
* Fall Festival: Soddy United Methodist Church, 255 Depot St., 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, free, games, prizes, free food, cake walk and face painting. 423-332-4043.