Portal to the Past Festival

Start: Saturday, November 22, 2025 10:00AM
End: Saturday, November 22, 2025 2:00PM

Experience S’edav Va’aki Museum’s seventh annual Portal to the Past Festival (Portal Fest) and the new exhibits Parched: The Art of Water in the Southwest and Su:dagi/Shu:thag: Rekindling Our Connections, for FREE on Nov. 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This year, Portal Fest is offering a wide variety of entertainment and activities that highlight the water heritage and ingenuity of the Ancestral O’Odham, the original inhabitants of the Valley of the Sun. Enjoy incredible cultural performances and demonstrations by local musicians, dancers, and artisans, including engaging family art activities led by museum staff. S’edav Va’aki Museum and the Cultural Coalition are also excited to announce that Portal Fest will host a Toka Tournament for the third year in a row from 10 a.m. to noon. Teams from the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, the Gila River Indian Community, and the Tohono O’Odham Nation will be playing in a round robin format. Toka is a traditional game played by women of all ages from the O’Odham communities and resembles a mix of field hockey and lacrosse. Games are played in dirt and can be very intense so don’t miss out! Free and open to the public, Portal Fest includes Museum entry and access to the main gallery and access to two new traveling exhibits Parched: The Art of Water in the Southwest and Su:dagi/Shu:thag: Rekindling Our Connections. This program is brought to you by S’edav Va’aki Museum and Cultural Coalition. Event Schedule: From 10:00AM – 12:00PM: Round Robin Toka Tournament From 12:05PM – 12:55PM: Cruz Waila Band From 12:55PM – 1:15PM: Keli Akimel Basket Dancers from Gila River Indian Community From 1:15PM – 1:30PM: Bird Singers and Dancers from Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community From 1:30PM – 2:00PM: Cruz Waila Band From 10:00AM – 2:00PM: Crafts for Kids Station For more information go to culturalcoaltion.com/portalfest/