This year's Navajo Nation Fair Parade took over Highway 264, the main road through Window Rock. I wasn’t sure where the parade would be cut off, so Google Maps directed me to St. Michaels along Indian Route 12, which turned out to be the end of the parade route. The sides of the road were already packed with cars, so I parked as soon as I could and walked about two miles to find a good spot with the fairgrounds in the background.
The floats were impressive, with trailers as platforms and some using pickup truck beds. They represented everything from local companies and Native organizations to powwow princesses, bands, and political figures. My personal favorites were the local bands and the two women singing within the first ten minutes of the video! As you can see, most of the floats threw out candy, while others handed out flour, bouncy balls, and shirts. After the parade, the route was covered in candy, and I really hope the fair organizers took extra time to clean up afterward.
This was actually my first time attending any Navajo Nation parade, including the Eastern Navajo Nation Parade, which was also a first for me. I didn’t experience the old locations of the NNF Parade, but I thought holding it along the main road in Window Rock was an excellent decision. Parking was a bit hectic but manageable. People had even set up tents behind their parked cars-I wonder how early some families arrived to claim a spot with a canopy. Next time, I'll definitely bring some cash for those spam and potato burritos! 😋🤤
After the parade, I headed back to Phoenix. I was so excited that I couldn’t sleep the night before and left Phoenix at 1am to make it on time for the 8am parade. I had planned to attend the powwow, but the parade ran until 1:15pm, and I was pretty sure I’d missed Grand Entry. Knowing how tired and heat-exhausted I was, I decided to head home and start working on this video instead.
Thanks for watching! Up next is the Prescott Powwow-see you in two weeks!
3 окт 2024
