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Valley Arts Festival 2024 - Kiicha Nights, Coyote Dreams
Valley Arts Festival (VAF) is an annual celebration of Oceanside and its first peoples, today known as the San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians, one of the seven tribes of the Luiseño nation. The Luiseño are an indigenous people of California who inhabited the coastal area of Southern California.
This year’s free family-friendly festival, themed “Kíicha Nights, Coyote Dreams© “, expands upon the success of the last three years, and will feature even more activities and vendors. VAF is made possible in part by Prebys Foundation and Title Sponsorship by Visit Oceanside.
Previous festivals included:
• Live Native American flute music with Spiritual Storm
• Live Native American blues music with Tracy Lee Nelson
• Live Native American storytelling
• Interactive community murals for youth and adults
• Interactive basket weaving with the Paa'ila Basket Weavers led by Diania Caudell
• Native American artists and vendors, including flutes, drums, clothing, and jewelry
• Multiple participatory activities for all ages including rock and gourd painting and jewelry making • Indian Fry Bread for purchase
This year’s festival will also include:
• Live Native American drumming with Dancing Cloud Drumming Circle
• Live interactive dancing demonstrations for youth and adults
• Enhanced educational area including a three-quarter size Kíicha (traditional home of the Luiseño people, a dome shaped structure made of tule reeds and/or willow branches)
