Thousands of people from across the country are expected to gather in Tvshkahomma, the Choctaw Nation Capitol, Sept. 4-6 for the Choctaw Labor Day Festival, an annual event rooted in family, culture and tradition.
This year, the festival will feature new and fan-favorite events, guaranteeing a fun-filled weekend for everyone to enjoy.
Competition
Festivalgoers can participate in or watch competitions throughout the weekend, including stickball, cornhole, fast-pitch, co-ed volleyball, bow shoot, elder chair volleyball, horseshoes, war hoops, the Fittest Warrior contest, the Tough Tough contest and more.
Culture
While the festival features modern conveniences such as food trucks and air-conditioned spaces, one constant remains–sharing Choctaw culture.
Throughout the weekend, festivalgoers can visit the Choctaw Village for traditional history, crafts and culture through live demonstrations, social dancing and hands-on activities.
Traditions are showcased throughout the festival, including the 2026-27 Princess Pageant, stickball tournament and exhibition games, social and gourd dancing, and more.
Fellowship
Beyond the festivities, the Choctaw Nation Labor Day Festival offers opportunities for fellowship and community connection. Families gather in Tvshkahomma to reconnect, making the festival a reunion for many. Attendees can visit with family and friends, update their membership cards and voter registration, stop by member service booths, purchase artwork by registered Choctaw artists, receive health screenings, attend worship services and gospel singing, and end the day with a sporting event or live music.
More Info
For a full list of events visit the Choctaw Nation Labor Day website. As a reminder, all events are subject to change. Festivalgoers are encouraged to check online for the latest information before arriving at the festival. Additional Labor Day stories are featured throughout the August issue of the Biskinik.
To stay updated on festival events, text “Labor Day” to 888777 to sign up for Labor Day Festival text alerts.
Updates will also be posted on official Choctaw Nation social media pages, including the Choctaw Nation Labor Day Festival Facebook, biskinik.com and choctawnation.com.
For more information, including a festival map and interactive schedule, visit laborday.choctawnation.com.
A celebration through the decades: Exploring the history of the Labor Day Festival
For generations, the festival has been held on the grounds of the Choctaw Capitol, drawing Choctaws home each year for reunions, fellowship, competition, entertainment and delicious food.
The origins of the festival date back to 1938, when the Choctaw Capitol Building, originally built in 1883, was reconstructed. Annual celebrations tied to the building came to be known as the “Annual Iksa Meeting,” a gathering that gradually evolved into today’s festival.
In 1948, Chief Harry Belvin renamed the gathering the “Choctaw Chickasaw Labor Day Meet” and expanded it into a full weekend event.
The name was later shortened to reference only the Choctaw Nation, after the Chickasaw Nation established its own festival at Tishomingo in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
The Choctaw Capitol Building underwent another renovation in the 1970s, and the surrounding grounds have been expanded significantly in the decades since. The original brush arbor became a tabernacle, then an amphitheater.Sporting areas, a new cafeteria, arts and crafts building, and RV spaces have all been added or expanded to accommodate growing crowds.
The Capitol building is now home to the Tvshkahomma Capitol Museum, which is open to the public not only during the festival, but year round.
Choctaw Nation Historic Preservation’s Iti Fabvssa articles are also a great resource for information on the festival’s history.
If you are interested in learning more about the Choctaw Nation Labor Day Festival, the newest exhibit Where We Gather: The Choctaw Labor Day Festival at the Choctaw Cultural Center in Durant is a great way to continue exploring.