School’s almost out, but the learning doesn’t have to stop! Summer is a great time to discover and celebrate the cultures and traditions of tribes in Washington. Here are a few experiences to add to your calendar.
Lummi Stommish Water Festival
June 18-21, 2026Now in its 80
th year, the
Lummi Stommish Water Festival celebrates “culture, community, and warriors of the past and present.” First held in 1946 to welcome home Lummi veterans returning from World War II, the festival has become a multi-day event featuring canoe races, traditional song and dance, a Sla-Hal stick game tournament, a salmon barbecue and more.
Indian Days Powwow
July 17-19, 2026More than 20,000 people attend the annual
Indian Days Powwow at Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center in Seattle’s Discovery Park. The three-day event showcases traditional food, music and dance, plus a vendor market with jewelry, clothing and other work from Indigenous vendors.
Canoe Journey 2026: Paddle to Nisqually
July 31-August 5, 2026The Nisqually Indian Tribe is this year’s host tribe for
Canoe Journey, an annual intertribal celebration and gathering of Indigenous nations from the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Throughout the seven-day event, more than 100 canoe families will paddle their ancestral waterways, traveling from their home territories and visiting other tribal nations along the way to their final landing at Nisqually. At each stop, canoe families follow protocol, asking in their native languages for permission to come ashore. Protocol is followed by celebrations with gifting, traditional prayers, drumming, songs, dancing, food and more. Everyone is welcome!
Chief Seattle Days
August 14-16, 2026Each August, the Suquamish Tribe hosts
Chief Seattle Days, a public festival honoring Chief Si’ahl, also known as Chief Seattle, and the Suquamish people. The three-day event has something for everyone, including a Powwow, canoe races and other sporting events, cultural demonstrations, salmon bakes and more.
Makah Days
August 28-30, 2026The
Makah Tribe’s annual celebration blends traditions of the past and present. Activities include the Grand Parade and coronation of Makah Royalty, traditional dancing, war canoe races, a street fair with native arts and crafts, and more. Looking for a challenge? Don’t miss the Bahokus Peak Challenge—a 3-mile uphill race with an elevation gain of nearly 1,400 feet!
