The Pow Wow will continue at the park on Sept. 27, noon-5 p.m.

Susan Didier, Indian Trail community development specialist and events coordinator, said the fourth annual Indian Trail Cultural Arts Festival will give community residents an opportunity to look back at the town’s rich cultural history and appreciate the efforts of current artists.

“Indian Trail has a very interesting culture and history, being able to showcase that for the community is very special for us because those unique traits from our past have a tendency to fade or be forgotten over time,” Didier said. “We want to provide a family-friendly way to highlight that character from our history….”

Indian Trail’s name explains the start of its heritage. The town started as a section of a foot path called Occaneechi Trading Path. It was traveled by American Indians on their way from Petersburg, Va., to Waxhaw, according to Indian Trail Arts and Historical Society’s website.

For the first time, Indian Trail will partner this year with Metrolina Native American Association to host Indian Trail Cultural Arts Festival.

“We’re thrilled that the Pow Wow is returning to Indian Trail,” said Didier.

The town last hosted the Pow Wow in 2012.

“Native American history and culture was so important to the establishment and growth of Indian Trail, and it’s important for us that our residents get to take part in a celebration of that culture and learn about what role it played in the town we have today,” Didier said.

Jessie Jacobs, chairperson of Metrolina Native American Association, said all eight North Carolina American Indian tribes will participate in the event. The eight NC tribes are the Coharie, Meherrin, Eastern Band of Cherokee (Tsalagiyi Detsadanilvgi), Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, Sappony, Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe, Waccamaw Siouan Tribe and Lumbee Tribe.

Pow Wow attendees can expect American Indian drumming, singing and storytelling, competitive dancing, war paint and tribal members dressed in handmade formal clothing. Jacobs said traditional foods like Indian maize, bread and tacos will be on sale, as well as crafts like arrowheads made on-site.

Jacobs said American Indians have hosted pow wows since the 1960s, as a way to share their culture.

“We want to entertain people,” Jacobs said. “It’s powerful to share our history and present state. American Indians know American Indians; we want other people to learn.”

The event is free. And free parking is available on-site.

“There’s going to be a lot of different things going on throughout the day Saturday and Sunday, so there should be something for everyone to come out and enjoy,” Didier said. “The arts are such an important part of our community, and the festival combined with everything we do at the Indian Trail Cultural Arts Center aims to make sure we foster the continued growth of creativity in the minds of our budding and future artists.”

Stay up-to-date on festival happenings and find a schedule of events online atwww.indiantrail.org.