September 21, 2025
Early morning, on Saturday ( September 13), Bruce and I rode the motorcycle to Tuscumbia Spring Park in Tuscumbia, AL. We were excited to attend the Oka Kapassa Festival. https://okakapassafestival.org/2025-festival-schedule/
Once we parked, we took off our motorcycle gear. I changed out of my motorcycle boots and put on tennis shoes. While my motorcycle boots are comfortable for riding, I develop blisters if I walk around in them too much.
We watched the grand entry and the salute to veterans.
While we waited for the dancers, we walked around the festival.
Tennessee State Park Rangers had a booth with a beautiful male American Kestrel.
We walked over to the waterfall.
It was time for the dance troupes.
We watched a demonstration of how to make a clay pot.
After watching the pottery demonstration, we geared up and rode home.
Blackberry Homestead 
We’ve been to that park. The festival looks fun!
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We had fun!
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What does the lady dancer in the green skirt have strapped to her leg?
Sounds like a fun day of community building!
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She has metal cans filled with river stones strapped to her legs to make rattles. Before the forced march to Oklahoma, they would use turtle shells with deer hooves as rattles.
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I hate the thought of that march so much. It makes me cry every time I hear about it. I don’t know how those families moved past it. 😢
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Same here.
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The festival appears to be very interesting, as well as well-attended. Resilience demonstrated in its many forms.
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It was very interesting. The various tribes spent time teaching about their cultures before performing dances. They mentioned how welcoming everyone at the festival was.
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