City: Denver, CO

Category: Annual Events & Festivals

Telephone: (303) 934-8045

Address: 4600 Humboldt St. (take the Brighton Bou

Insider Pick:

Description: Don’t miss this one in mid- to late March. More than 1,000 Native Americans of tribes from most of the US as well as Canada dance simultaneously in full costume. At the edges of the dancing, groups of men surround huge drums and make the whole coliseum vibrate. The big en masse dancing and the Grand Entry happen all 3 days, with other activities scattered throughout. You’ll get plenty of opportunities to see the costumes close up: The seats around you will be filled with Native American families related to the dancers. Costumed competitors will be sitting next to you and walking past you. There’s a modest Native American market downstairs. Expect between 40 and 50 drum groups to be at the powwow, along with representatives of 60 to 70 tribes and a total 3-day crowd in the neighborhood of 80,000. If you plan to bring a digital or video camera, you must purchase a permit.