Amazing tales as told by the Cherokee storytellers themselves.

Imagine you’re gathered around a roaring bonfire, the occasional spark shooting high into the night sky, as a strong but gentle voice begins a story you’ve never heard. As the drama builds, you’re nearly breathless, your own heartbeat matching the occasional beat of the hand drum the storyteller uses. Drawing from a rich oral tradition dating back millennia, the Cherokee Bonfire runs throughout the tourism season, and is an enchanting way to interact with the rich details of the Cherokee people and their stories. Get your room reserved in Cherokee, grab a blanket and someone close to you, and enjoy a cultural experience only Cherokee can offer.

The Bonfire stories crackles from 7:00–9:00 p.m. on the following dates at Oconaluftee Islands Park, on Tsali Blvd.:

May 28-30 and then Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, June 1–October 31, 2022.

Introduce your kids to a love of fishing at this free two-day event. On Friday, you may register for this event in person. On Saturday, we will give out free fishing poles for eligible participants (children ages 3 to 11). Arrive at Oconaluftee Islands Park on Saturday, for hours of fishing fun with prizes, face painting, balloon animals, and more. Entry is free (provided you register) and includes breakfast and lunch on Saturday. Over $20,000 in prizes will be awarded this weekend!

Pre-register online at cherokeetroutderby.com and print registration details. You will need to bring your registration with you to the Cherokee Indian Fair Grounds along with the child you pre-registered, on Friday, August 5, 2022 from 10am – 6pm or Saturday, August 6, 2022 from 6am – 10am. If you do not pre-register, you can register your child in person. Please note, your child must be present with you in order to register them – there will be no exceptions. 

Bring a blanket and an appetite for heart-pounding drama.

You can feel a slight chill run up your spine; but not from the mountain winds shifting their direction in anticipation of the coming dusk. It is from your anticipation of the coming drama. Unto These Hills drama is the tragic and triumphant story of the Cherokee that traces back to the years before the heartbreak of the Trail of Tears to the present day. Millions of people have witnessed America’s most powerful drama, which rewrites the Cherokee’s place in the world. A place based on traditional Cherokee values and modern sensibilities.