Free October 24 festival at Highlands United Methodist Church welcomes families for a celebration leading into Native American Heritage Month

DENVER — For the first time in its history, the Denver American Indian Festival is coming to North Denver, bringing Indigenous music, dance, storytelling, arts, and food to Highlands United Methodist Church on Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The festival takes place at 3131 Osceola Street, Denver, CO 80212, and is free and open to the public.

Leading into Native American Heritage Month in November, the festival invites families, neighbors, and visitors to celebrate the living cultures, histories, and contributions of Indigenous peoples. Its first-ever North Denver gathering offers a welcoming opportunity to connect with Native artists, performers, storytellers, and crafters while building community across generations and cultures.

Featured entertainment includes Shelley Morningsong and Fabian Fontenelle, sharing songs, dance, and flute; Seven Falls Indian Dancers, presenting exhibition dances; Red Feather Woman, sharing storytelling and music; Azteca Grupo Huitzilopochtli, presenting Aztec dance and drumming; and Cherokee storyteller and historian Jim Kemp. Native crafters and fry bread vendors will also participate, giving visitors opportunities to enjoy food, explore handmade arts and crafts, and support participating vendors.

The move to Highlands United Methodist Church marks a new chapter for the volunteer-run festival, bringing this celebration of Native American heritage to North Denver for the first time. Community members of all backgrounds are invited to attend, learn, and celebrate together.

The Denver American Indian Festival is a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Since 2014, it has brought celebrations of American Indian culture, arts, and history to communities throughout the Denver metropolitan area. Sponsors and volunteers are welcome to help keep the festival free and accessible. For festival information, updates, and ways to support the event, visit www.denveramericanindianfestival.org. For media inquiries, contact Renee Fajardo at 720-329-0869 or jtoh2016@gmail.com.

Denver American Indian Festival
Saturday, October 24, 202610 a.m.–5 p.m.
Highlands United Methodist Church3131 Osceola Street, Denver, CO 80212
Free admission • Family-friendly • Open to the public

FEATURED ENTERTAINERS

Shelley Morningsong and Fabian Fontenelle

Shelley Morningsong, a Northern Cheyenne singer and songwriter, and Fabian Fontenelle, a Zuni/Omaha dancer and storyteller, share Native cultures through songs, dance, and flute. Shelley is a Native American Music Award recipient, and Fabian is an original member of the American Indian Dance Theatre.

https://www.shelleymorningsong.com/

Seven Falls Indian Dancers

Seven Falls Indian Dancers are a multigenerational family dance troupe sharing Native American dance traditions through exhibition performances. Their presentations offer audiences opportunities to experience and learn about Indigenous cultural expression.

https://www.facebook.com/7fallsnsndancers

Red Feather Woman

Rose Red Elk, known as Red Feather Woman, is a storyteller, singer, songwriter, author, and award-winning recording artist from the Fort Peck Reservation in Montana. An enrolled member of the Sioux/Assiniboine Tribes, she blends traditional storytelling with original contemporary songs.

https://www.redfeatherwoman.com/

Azteca Grupo Huitzilopochtli

Azteca Grupo Huitzilopochtli shares Indigenous Mexican heritage through Aztec dance, drumming, and cultural education. The group received a 2016 Denver Mayor’s Award for Excellence in Arts and Culture and works to strengthen connections among youth, families, and communities.

https://azteca-dance.yolasite.com/Media.php

Jim Kemp

Jim Kemp is a Cherokee storyteller and historian who shares Cherokee history and cultural knowledge through educational presentations and storytelling.

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