Shoshone-Bannock Indian Festival to start this Thursday

FORT HALL — The annual Shoshone-Bannock Indian Festival is set to start this Thursday, August 8.

According to a news release from the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, the theme for this year’s festival is “Our Language is our Identity.” Everyone in the community is invited to attend the festival.

There will be many different events throughout the festival. There will be singing and dancing contests, parades, golf and softball tournaments, rodeos and the Miss Shoshone-Bannock Queen Competition. There will also be traditional foods and arts.

The Miss Shoshone-Bannock Queen will be crowned on Friday at 7 p.m. The community is encouraged to watch the contestants perform their cultural presentations. The 2023-24 Queen is Develynn Hall.

The festival will start at 9 a.m. on Thursday with the All-Indian Junior Rodeo. The Thursday events will include a kid’s parade and arts and crafts booths. The day will end with the Children and Veterans Recognition Powwow.

Friday’s events will start with the Festival Fun Run/Walk at 8 a.m. It will include Indian Relay Races and the Miss Shoshone-Bannock Queen Crowning before ending with Wiley Petersen’s Bull Riding Mayhem.

The festival parade will start on Saturday at 10 a.m. It will start at the Trading Post Grocery Store and end at the Festival Arbor. Registration for the parade will start at 8 a.m.

Other events on Saturday include the Fort Hall Skate Jam, more Indian Relay Races and the INFR Tour Rodeo.

The Championship Indian Relay Races will take place on Sunday. The last event of the festival will be the traditional feast that will take place at the Festival Arbor at 4 p.m. Sunday.

More information about the festival can be found at shobanfestival.com or on Facebook at facebook.com/shobanindianfestival.