Native American Heritage Festival at Thornton Park set for Nov. 16

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SANTA ANA, Calif. – Native American crafts, traditional songs and dances will mark the City of Santa Ana’s celebration of the Native American Heritage Festival on Saturday, November 16, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Thornton Park located at 1801 W. Segerstrom Ave.

The free, family-friendly event will feature Native American and Indigenous music, storytelling, dances, and interactive experiences with the performers. The Welcome Ceremony will begin at 12 p.m. with the Santa Ana High School Choir performing the National Anthem.

“In Santa Ana, we must never forget those who were here first, the Native American peoples,” Mayor Valerie Amezcua said. “This festival is an opportunity to learn about indigenous cultures and traditions, and to celebrate the resilience of the Native community.”

Attendees can also look forward to other exciting opportunities, including:

  • Local vendors and artisans
  • Local entertainment
  • Food trucks
  • Kids Zone, with activities including arts and crafts, seed planting, inflatables, and an interactive bubble experience

This festival is coordinated and brought to the community by All Occasions Services, a full-service event production & management company selected by the City of Santa Ana through a Request for Proposal (RFP) process.

The festival will celebrate the rich diverse cultures and traditions of the Native American and Indigenous communities. Attendees can enjoy Native and Indigenous performances, including Native hoop dancing and traditional grass dance and experience the heartbeat of mother earth through live drumming. It’s an opportunity to connect with and learn from the Indigenous peoples and Native communities.

All available parking is free. Parking is limited at Thornton Park, located 1801 W. Segerstrom Ave., Santa Ana. Additional parking will be available nearby at McFadden Institute of Technology (MIT), located at 2701 S. Raitt St., Santa Ana.

Additional event information can be found here.

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Santa Ana is downtown for the world-famous Orange County, California. It is the County Seat, headquarters to national corporations including a Fortune 500 company, and home to a vibrant evening scene and arts community. Over 1,700 City employees work hard every day to deliver efficient public services in partnership with our community to ensure public safety, a prosperous economic environment, opportunities for our youth, and a high quality of life for residents. Learn more at www.santa-ana.org.

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Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions.

When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.