Ocmulgee Mounds Indian Celebration still on for Saturday as a virtual event
COVID-19 concerns are preventing Native Americans and others from coming to Macon from across the country this weekend for Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park’s Indian Celebration, but the celebration will continue virtually.
The event annually draws 7,000-plus visitors to the historic site – an ancestral home of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, now based in eastern Oklahoma.
Muscogee (Creek) officials regularly visit along with other tribal members as attendees, craftspeople and performers along with members of the Cherokee, Seminole, Choctaw and other nations.
“We’re going to post videos on our Facebook page this year, many of them made and sent to us by Muscogee (Creek),” said Ranger Angela Bates, a National Park Service ranger at Ocmulgee Mounds. “We plan to post about five different ones Saturday and five more on Sunday and they’ll remain there for people to watch and enjoy.”
Bates said videos were shot in Oklahoma, Texas and at Ocmulgee Mounds then assembled, captioned and fine-tuned by Macon’s Big Hair Productions.
She said videos include greetings from Muscogee (Creek) officials, traditional dance performances by Muscogee (Creek) and Choctaw dancers-singers, flute displays and performances, informational and historical videos, and other topics and items of interest, many shot at Ocmulgee Mounds.
Bates said there will be two videos demonstrating how to make Native crafts: leather moccasins and corn husk dolls. She said those wanting to can gather supplies and make the items at home during the weekend celebration or in the future.
She said Ocmulgee Mound’s Facebook page is at www.facebook.com/ocmulgeemoundsnps where videos will be hosted and other information can be found, including material lists for crafts.
“We’re all disappointed everyone can’t meet in person – it’s something so many look forward to,” Bates said. “But we’re happy we can present it online. We also can’t help thinking with the weather being like it has this week we might have had to cancel anyway so it was good knowing the celebration could go on rain or shine.”
Though the live celebration itself was canceled and the site closed earlier this year due to health concerns, the park is now open for outdoor-only visitors who want to walk its extensive trails and see the sights. Beginning Saturday, the park will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
However, as a special live feature Saturday at the park, the nonprofit Ocmulgee Mounds Association will host a Pop-Up Shop outside on the visitor center patio. Offered will be Ocmulgee Mounds T-shirts, hats, posters, stickers, books and other items along with special Muscogee (Creek) made products.
The association normally operates a gift shop in the visitor center, closed since March. The group works in various other ways to help provide funds for park programs and events.
Proceeds from the pop-up shop go toward such future activities.
“We’ll be open Saturday from 9 a.m. until noon,” said Lisa Lemon, executive director of the association. “Since the gift shop has been closed this seemed like a good time to do our first-ever pop-up as a way to bring in revenue. We want to be supportive and help them open back up strong when things return to normal.”
Lemon said as a bonus, those coming to the pop-up can bring their dogs on a leash and complete a Bark Ranger pamphlet to get a Bark Ranger tag.
She also said masks and social distancing is encouraged.
Bates said this year has been tough on everybody but she’s glad technology is allowing the celebration to go on in a virtual fashion.
“It won’t be the same but we’ve worked to create an enjoyable and informative experience for young people and adults,” she said. “We’ll have new videos beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday and post them throughout the day until about 5 p.m. We’re also looking at creating a YouTube channel to put them on for the future. Of course, we’re all hoping next year we can come back stronger and greater with new ideas, crafts, vendors and participants to help tell the story of our country’s Native people, but at least this year we can do it through technology.”
Among other virtual entertainment opportunities for the weekend, Theatre Macon’s online-only presentation of “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder” began Thursday and runs through Sunday. Information and ticketing is at www.theatremacon.com/gentlemans-guide.
Contact writer Michael W. Pannell at mwpannell@gmail.com.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
What: Virtual Ocmulgee Indian Celebration
Where: Online at www.facebook.com/ocmulgeemoundsnps
When: Sept.19-20
Cost: Free
This story was originally published September 18, 2020 at 7:00 AM.