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Schedule of Ceremonies and Events Set For  Annual Nipmuc Native American Indian Fair 

GRAFTON, MASSACHUSETTS: The schedule of ceremonies and events for the Nipmuc Nation’s 51st Native American Indian Fair have been set by Nipmuc Nation Chief Natachaman Walter Vickers, who will preside over the day’s events, and Nipmuc Nation Tribal Council member Bruce Curliss, master of ceremonies. The Native American Indian Fair will be held on the last Sunday of July from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Hassanamisco Nipmuc Reservation, 80 Brigham Hill Road in Grafton.

The following is the general schedule of events as provided by the Nipmuc Nation:

HASSANAMISCO NIPMUC RESERVATION
51ST ANNUAL NATIVE AMERICAN FAIR

A CELEBRATION OF THE 350TH ANNIVERSARY OF HASSANAMESIT
Always last Sunday of July 
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS


10:00 AM    Grounds open to the public
                    Good time to walk around, find a place to sit on the hill and visit vendors

11:15 AM    Lighting of the fire and preparing the circle for dancing and ceremonies

12:00 Noon    Naming Ceremony for Tribal members
                    Led by Chief Natachaman (Walter Vickers) and Elders of the Nation

12:30 PM     Children's activity - Open to all children who wish to participate
                    Led by Sherry Cavers

1:30 PM     Dancers will gather at the top of the hill for Grand Entry
                    Warm-up songs for drums present
                    Explanations and expectations of everyone for Grand Entry

2:00 PM     Grand Entry - (program in the circle officially begins)

                    Thanksgiving prayer (Invocation)

                    Calumet (Pipe Ceremony)

                    Welcome Dance

                    Greetings from various dignitaries

                    350th Anniversary of Hassanamesit and events schedule (Ken Crater)

                    Introductions of dancers present

                    Various dances based on dancers present and styles of dance will be explained as they happen.

                    Audience participation dances

4:00 PM            Closing Prayer and Closing Song


The Nipmuc Nation Native American Fair features Native American food, music and ceremonials with dancers dressed in colorful, traditional Indian clothing. The Opening Ceremonies, featuring the Grand Entry, begin at 2:00 PM. Numerous Native American crafts and toys, jewelry, and garments will be on display and available for sale by exhibitors.

Admission to the Fair is by donation: $2.00 for adults, $0.75 for children. No pets please.

Parking is available for $2.00 at the Grafton Lions Club Park on Brigham Hill Road. Courtesy shuttle transportation to and from the Reservation grounds will be provided by Nipmuc Nation Transportation Services. Per arrangements with the Grafton Selectmen and the Grafton Police Department, traffic on Brigham Hill Road between Providence Road (municipal center) and North Brigham Hill Road will be one way (north) from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Sunday, July 25th. Traffic coming south on Brigham Hill Road will be diverted at North Brigham Hill onto Wheeler Road and onto Worcester Street. Overflow parking, if necessary, will be available at the Grafton Municipal Center with shuttle transportation provided to the Reservation grounds.

The 52nd Nipmuc Native American Indian Fair is the third in a series of events promoted by Grafton’s 350th Hassanamesit Anniversary Committee consisting of representatives of the Nipmuc Nation Tribal Council, Grafton Town Officials, members of the Grafton Land Trust, Grafton Historical Commission, John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission, The Trust for Public Land, Worcester Historical Museum and local civic, cultural and youth groups.

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