Entertainment, fair extras announced

    CHOCTAW – The beautiful cultural traditions of the Choctaw will be presented during the 66th Annual Choctaw Indian Fair.

    Culturally known to the Mississippi Choctaws as the “Green Corn Festival”, the Choctaw Indian Fair promises to be filled with Choctaw history, pageantry, World Series Stickball, Choctaw food, Choctaw song and dance, cultural activities, Indian arts and crafts, chart-topping country music artists on the main stage, and a whole lot more, according to organizers.

    This year’s fair is scheduled July 8-11, and throughout the fair week, there will be special features such as the Mississippi Braves, Living Traditions Dance Troupe with World Champion Hoop Dancer Derrick Davis, Extreme Team slam dunk show and fan favorite the Scales, Tails and Teeth Show featuring Scott Cohen and Andy Riffle from Animal Planet’s “Gator Boys.”  

    Pre-fair activities start July 7 with Gospel Night at the Amphitheater Stage, reduced carnival ride rates and stickball games. The winner of the Got Gospel singing competition will open for the Oak Ridge Boys, who will kick off the fair’s lineup of country music entertainment on July 9.

    Chief Phyliss J. Anderson will officially kick off the fair on July 8 with opening ceremonies at 6 p.m., followed by the 61st Annual Choctaw Indian Princess Pageant. Choctaw culture will be on full display, as beautiful young Choctaw ladies showcase traditional Choctaw clothing and unique works of art and compete to become the next Choctaw Indian Princess.

    The Oak Ridge Boys will take the stage July 9 at 8:30 p.m. to perform well-known hits such as “Elvira,” “Bobbie Sue,” “American Made” and “Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight.” On July 10, up and coming country music artist Jerrod Niemann brings his energetic sound to the stage at 8:30 p.m., playing No. 1 hits like “Lover, Lover” and “Drink To That All Night.” Then on July 11, after closing ceremonies, chart-topping country music superstar Gary Allan takes the stage at 8:30 p.m. to perform fan favorites like “Every Storm,” “Watching Airplanes,” “Best I Ever Had” “Right Where I Need To Be” and “Nothing On But The Radio.”

    Also featured at the Choctaw Indian Fair will be crowd favorite Scales, Tails & Teeth show, a Mississippi Braves Meet & Greet, Living Traditions Dance Troupe, and Lords of Gravity slam dunk show.     On July 8, the Mississippi Braves baseball team will hold a Meet & Greet session, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. This is a perfect time for fans to stop by to take pictures and grab some Mississippi Braves goodies.

    Scales, Tails, & Teeth Show featuring Scott Cohen and Andy Riffle from Animal Planet’s hit show “Gator Boys” will be scheduled July 9-11, with three shows per day at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. The show will feature alligator education and entertainment.

    Living Traditions Dance Troupe featuring seven-time Hoop Dance World Champion Derrick Davis and Ryan Polequaptewa will perform July 9-11, with a special performance July 9 at 7 p.m. at the main stage. Extreme Team acrobatic basketball slam dunk team will perform three shows per day in the Choctaw Central Gymnasium July 10-11 (specific times will be announced at a later date).

    The Fourth Annual Rez Run will begin at 7 a.m. on July 11 at Warrior Stadium. Runners can compete in the 1-mile fun run/walk, 5K or 10K races for awards and prizes. $500 will go to the top male and female winners in the 10K and $200 for the top male and female winners in the 5K. Registration is now available at www.racesonline.com.

    Choctaw Social Dancing and cultural displays will also be showcased at the stage nightly before the musical performances. Immediately following the show, World Series of Stickball games will be played at Warrior Stadium with the World Series Stickball Championship Game capping off the last night of the fair Saturday, July 11 at 10:15 p.m.

    To learn more about the 66th Annual Choctaw Indian Fair, visit www.choctawindianfair.com, like us on Facebook at Choctaw Indian Fair or call the fair hotline at (601) 650-7450.