Gathering of Nations Powwow

I give it a five star for the performances but a one star for the food vendor. We had to wait 45 minutes for our Indian Taco that had very little meat. Our nephew who ordered his taco seconds before us got it in 5 minutes while we had to complain that we didn't get ours. I will never buy food here again if we decide to come back. We talked to a native person who said the same. Don't waste your time in line getting food. Enjoy the show instead. New Mexico Gathering of Nations, are you listening? I hope so.

The event being at ExpoNM give you a lot of space to enjoy the activities. The main issue is where to get food and drinks. There a small number of locations for food and drink which resulted in wait lines of almost 45 minutes in the sun. Other than this issue the event is worth attending.

whoever idea was to open with a heavy metal band is NUTS. It was the worst experience and a complete shock to my brain. I had to cover my ears because it was so loud. Horrible experience. Needless to say, I hate heavy metal. They must have got a great deal on the band.

The word "Culture" obviously means different things to different people. For a lot of City Folk, it represents a nice variety of "Arts," and "Entertainment" to be soaked up in a city. Nice museums and live theater one can enjoy while hobnobbing with other highfalutin folk. However, Webster also describes it as " The behaviors and beliefs characteristic of a particular social, ethnic, or age group."For me, I prefer the latter definition, especially here in our extremely diverse state of New Mexico. Let's face it, other than maybe certain Asian ethnicities, New Mexico is about as diverse as it comes. I really like this, and coming from a boring "White Guy's" perspective, it's pretty cool! It's one of the factors that drew me to this state. So naturally, when given the opportunity to observe and learn Native American culture up close and personal, I jumped at the opportunity! Regarding Native American culture, the word "Unique" and the phrase "Rockin' Cool" resonates with me. I mean, just look at all the color! My goodness, I don't think there is any culture that can rival their color, save maybe some of the cool regalia in Thailand or other Asian countries. In addition to the beauty of their culture, I really like the way their dances all tell a story. Some of their beautiful flute songs tell a story and I love how, though against all odds, they keep their language alive within the family unit. This has just got to be challenging in our society today, so hats off to their effort and a huge hand to this event! It's like the rock concert of ALL rock concerts with a touching human element that needs to be seen.So put this on your MUST SEE list in life, or you'll surely regret it!

A extraordinary & spiritual journey attending the "Gathering of Nations Pow Wow" I got goosebumps from the Grand entry and felt the energy & spiritual experience, so elated to have watched, my heart sung, my eyes sparkled and my soul soared.

As an Albuquerque native, it is shameful that I just attended Gathering of Nations for the very first time! It's definitely a worthwhile cultural experience. The event changed venues this year and was held at Tingley Colosseum at EXPO New Mexico instead of at The Pit. We attended on a rainy and cold Friday night. Maybe the events was less busy because of the weather, but parking was no problem. We attended the event through a Yelp Elite invitation, so we picked up our tickets and headed inside. It was pretty packed inside of Tingley, partially because there were competitions taking place and partially because it was freezing outside! Our Yelp passes garnered us access to the event's VIP lounge, but I must say, it was not super impressive. There were some couches and snacks (popcorn and coffee), as well as a TV to watch the stage downstairs. But at an event like this, I feel like the whole point is to be "in the action", so we headed back into the crowd. After getting the lay of the land, an "Indian Taco" was my top priority, so we beelined for the food tents. They were set up outside, which on a normal April day would be quite nice, but standing in line was pretty dreary and wet. But what can you do! I don't fault the event organizers for the weather. While eating, we camped out beside "Stage 49" - an outdoor stage with various musical acts performing throughout the event. It was cool to have a mixture of traditional music/dancing inside with more contemporary varieties outside. I enjoyed the marketplace as well - it was full of indigenous vendors from around the world. I bought a pair of really unique earrings that I love! After eating and shopping, we headed inside for the "Grand Entry." Our Yelpy seats got us front row access, and it was awesome to be super close to be able to see the intricate details of the dancers' regalia. They clearly put a lot of heart and soul into making their ornate outfits. The beating of the drums and the sheer number of people dancing in unison was very emotive and impressive. All-in-all, Gathering of Nations is a a must-do, immersive cultural experience for visitors and locals alike in Albuquerque. Don't miss it!

Extremely inflexible. My wife purchased tickets online and there was not an option for re-entry. On the date we attended, I went through security and my ticket was scanned. Went to look for my phones to take a picture and realized that I left both phones in my car. I was not allowed re-entry without having to purchase another ticket. Needless to say this will be our first and last attendance to this event.To add insult to injury, when I returned to my vehicle 4 hours later, I had a crack in my windshield.

A spectacle of color and culture! So many interesting things to see and do. It was pretty incredible to see all the different dancers in their regalia from around the world. We saw the Grand Entrance which was an awesome opportunity to see all the dancers at the same time. Plus there werr some interesting spot light dancers who showcased a few of the different types of dance. There are a few etiquette rules it is important to remember, but you get a reminder sheet when you enter. This is an absolutely unique Albuquerque experience which I highly recommend.

New Mexicans often refer to the annual Balloon Fiesta as the most unique, dynamic event of the year, and while it's certainly true that the Fiesta packs in the most visitors and gets all of the press, it doesn't hold a candle to the Gathering of Nations in scope or cultural authenticity. As our heritage of ancestral Pueblo sites attest in everlasting grandeur, this place has always been a haven in the southwest for peoples of all nations. It's commonly believed that Chaco Canyon was an international meeting place for aboriginal peoples; today, in the basin of The Pit arena in Albuquerque, you'll find new generations pounding drums, calling out to the heavens, nominating Miss Indian World, offering a stage for the children to spin and shine, and dancing en masse during Grand Entry. It's not only a terrific festival the world over, it's also absolutely perfect in The Pit.When you get over the minor headaches of finding a spot to park (expect to pay about $10), often long lines for tickets and the metal detector at the door, within you're immediately immersed in another realm. It's as if you've stepped underground, surrounded by regalia from Aztec to Aussie to Alberta, entire families of fiercely proud people carrying with them stories and traditions that bury Plymouth Rock. You're simultaneously a guest and participant, if that's possible. The powwow goes on late into the night, and as we learned Friday, it's not always on schedule. A few things to keep in mind: always ask permission before taking someone's picture. Don't call them costumes. This event, and space, is considered sacred. Blanketed seats around the arena are reserved; uncovered seats are open. No booze on premises. Stand respectfully for the Flag Song and Grand Entry.Other aspects of the Gathering: Stage 49, offering Native musicians, particularly metalheads, an opportunity to sing and often scream, all day long. Musical performances within The Pit are well choreographed and easily worth admission. The Indian Traders Market is enormous and represents arts and crafts from every corner of the globe, we bought our daughter two Peruvian dresses. As far as food goes, the frybread is totally legit, we ended up getting the lamb taco twice, but organizers should definitely consider expanding the eats around here. A vegetable or two would be nice, and no, green chile doesn't count. We have Pacific Northwest peeps in the house, can we get some salmon, maybe? There's a lot of potential for growth, but compared with the festival I attended some 15 years ago, the Gathering only continues to improve and impress.

It was so awesome seeing all the tribes dance and sing! If you haven't ever attended a PowWow, then you should. Amazing people! Our government treated these people with no respect. So it was nice to go and show some respect to them.