MEDIA RELEASE

2022 Shoshone-Bannock Festival is “Coming Back Stronger” 

Fort Hall, Idaho—the 57^th Annual Shoshone-Bannock Indian Festival (Festival) kicks off the largest annual outdoor cultural celebration on Thursday, August 11^th to Sunday, August 14^th in Fort Hall, Idaho. After two years of absence due to Covid-19 restrictions, this year’s annual Festival motto is titled “Coming Back Stronger.”  The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes extend a special invitation to everyone to join us in our annual celebration! 

The Festival has a myriad of venues to experience, which include local and nationally known drum groups, international competition of powwow dancing and singing contests, a free cultural buffalo & salmon feast, traditional hand game tournament, the popular Indian Relay races, two parades, a co-ed softball tournament, cultural & contemporary arts & crafts vendors from local tribal artists, over twenty food vendors, a men & women golf tournament, a one-day Skate Jam, a Fun Run, a newly added Rez Fitness challenge, a traditional pageant presentation, INFR rodeo, Bull Riding and more! 

All event flyers will be available online at www.shobanfestival.com and the Festival Facebook page, under ‘forthallfestival.’ All events are subject to change, please check both the Tribes and Festival Facebook pages for immediate changes in times and locations.

The Tribes will be hosting the Indian National Finals Rodeo (INFR) in Fort Hall, Idaho where rodeo competitors from the Northwest compete to enter the INFR Tour. In addition to the all-Indian Rodeo, we have the exciting and popular Indian Relay races, which will take place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 5PM each night at the Fort Hall Legacy rodeo grounds.

Each year, the festival hosts a Miss Shoshone-Bannock cultural pageant, who is chosen to represent as the Tribal Ambassador.  Our current reigning 2021-2022 Miss Shoshone-Bannock is Ontaria Ariwite and due to covid our former outgoing 2019-2021 Miss Shoshone-Bannock Stormie Perdash held the title for two years. This year, we will be acknowledging both young ladies for the amazing service they both provided to the Tribe. The public is invited to watch various cultural presentations as the young ladies compete for the prestigious title. Each contestant displays their finest traditional dresses, family beadwork and cultural knowledge. 

The complete list of daily activities and other festival news can be found in the Sho-Ban Festival News Magazine that will be available at all locations the Sho-Ban News is sold. 

Thursday, August 11^th 2022

10:00 AM​Kid’s Parade along East Agency road to Festival arbor; all community invited, free. 

7:00PM   Children & Veteran Powwow – “Coming Back Stronger” special & giveaway at the dance arbor; ALL veterans of color are welcome to join in uniform and dance in the circle.

Friday, August 12^th, 2022

9:00 AM   Arts and Crafts vendor booths open at Festival Dance Arbor; open to public

9:00 AM   INFR Slack at the rodeo arena; open to public 

9:00AM   All Indian Co-ed Tournament continues at the Fort Hall Softball Field

10:00AM – 7:00PM   Art Show at the Shoshone-Bannock Hotel & Event Center, Chief Pocatello Room. 

11:00AM Festival Pageant begins at the dance arbor: Tzi-tzi Princess, Future Princess, Little Princess, & Festival Princess; free and open to the public. 

1:00PM    Kid’s Traditional Games at the Festival Dance Arbor – open to all community youth!

5:00PM    Indian Relay begins at Rodeo grounds

5:00PM     Miss Sho-Ban Dance Competition at the dance arbor; free & open to public

6:00PM     Crowning of Miss Shoshone- Bannock at the dance arbor

7:00PM     Grand Entry at the dance arbor; bring own lawn chairs, limited seating.

8:00PM     Invitational Bull Riding Mayhem at the Rodeo arena (gate admission)

Saturday, August 13^th, 2022

7:00-9:00AM Rez Fitness Challenge at the Sho-Ban Jr./Sr. High School track; open to the public.

7:00 AM Festival Fun Run/Walk; open to entire community! registration end 7:30 at the Fort Hall Softball Field

9:00AM   Arts and Crafts vendor booths open at the dance arbor 

10:00AM    All–Indian Festival Parade, starts at East Agency Road to Festival arbor; all community invited, free

10:00AM – 7:00PM   Art Show at the Shoshone-Bannock Hotel & Event Center, Chief Pocatello Room. 

12:00PM    All-Indian Skate Jam at Fort Hall Skate Park on Mission road in Fort Hall (east of the rodeo grounds); all community invited to watch, free to public.

1:00PM     Grand Entry at the dance arbor; bring own lawn chairs, limited seating.

1:00PM   INFR Tour Rodeo at the Rodeo Grounds

5:00PM    Indian Relay at the Rodeo grounds

7:00PM   Grand Entry at the dance arbor; bring own lawn chairs, limited seating.

Final Day – Sunday, August 14^th, 2022

9:00AM      Arts and Crafts vendor booths open at the dance arbor 

12:00PM   INFR Tour Rodeo continues at the Fort Hall Rodeo Grounds

12:00PM   Traditional Buffalo and Salmon Feast at the dance arbor; free & open to public. 

1:00PM       Grand Entry at the dance arbor 

5:00PM       Champion Indian Relay races at Rodeo grounds

7:00PM       Final Grand Entry at the dance arbor

This schedule includes highlighted events for the overall general public. 

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