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Ancient Technology Day: Prehistoric & Historic
On the second Saturday of March, learn how people made jewelry, tools, and obtained food before hardware and grocery stores! This event is part of the annual Arizona Scitech Festival. Demonstrations and hands-on activities include an agave roast, cordage making, flintknapping, weaving, pottery making, atlatl (spear) throwing, and much more! Visitors of all ages and interests are encouraged to try their hand at each of the technologies and test our their prehistoric and historic skills. There are also free tours, crafts, and preservation demonstrations throughout the day. For this event, museum admission will be free!
International Museum Day
Each year, on or near May 18, in honor of International Museum Day, the Museum offers interpretative stations, kids crafts, and artifact show-and-tell where guests can see up close and touch different artifacts, throughout the day. Registration to receive a ticket for free admission to the Museum becomes available in the months leading up to the event on the Calendar of Events page.
World Atlatl Day
On the first Saturday of June, S'edav Va'aki Museum and S.A.L.T. (Study of Ancient Lifeways and Technologies) host an atlatl accuracy and distance competition at S'edav Va'aki Museum to celebrate World Atlatl Day. The atlatl is a weapon predating the bow and arrow. A stick with a hook on the end to hold the dart/spear, it increased the distance, speed and force of the dart/spear. Atlatl demonstrations and contests are open to the public from 9 a.m. to noon and there is no fee to participate. Museum admission is free for the day of the event as well
Portal to the Past Festival
On the first Sunday of October, S'edav Va'aki Museum and Cultural Coalition host the Portal to the Past Festival as a free event here at the museum. One of the only events within the city of Phoenix that combines indigenous history, cultural performances, archaeology, and interactive programming that is fun for the whole family. Enjoy tours, exhibits, craft activities, demonstrations and performances throughout the afternoon, in addition to tasty treats from local food trucks. In 2019, the inaugural Portal festival unveiled the “Portal to the Past” art installation, a winner of the New Arizona Prize Water Public Art Challenge. The piece, designed by local Arizona artist Zarco Guerrero, is a sculptural gate that incorporates images acknowledging the importance of the complex canal system created by the Ancestral Sonoran Desert People that we still use today. Museum admission is free for Portal Fest.
International Archaeology Day
On the third Saturday of October, S'edav Va'aki Museum celebrates International Archaeology Day by offering tours of the site, hands-on archaeology activities, demonstrations, and more. Registration to receive a ticket for free admission to the museum becomes available in the months leading up to the event on the Events page.
Veterans Day Gourd Dance
On November 11, S'edav Va'aki Museum and the Arizona Territory Gourd Society invite the public to attend the annual Veterans Day Gourd Dance at S'edav Va'aki Museum. The event is always held on the Veterans Day holiday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Join us to honor the memory of all Veterans who served our nation. Gourd Dancing starts at 11:30 a.m. Museum admission is free for the day and open to everyone.
S'edav Va'aki Museum Foundation Indian Market
The S'edav Va'aki Museum Foundation Indian Market is a two day event held at S'edav Va'aki Museum on the second weekend in December. The Indian Market features over 200 top Native American artists with items such as paintings, sculptures, jewelry, baskets and much more. There is music and dance performances scheduled throughout the event, artist demonstrations, and a children’s craft area. Visitors can also enjoy traditional Native American Foods. For additional information on each year's event, visit the S'edav Va'aki Museum Foundation for more information!
