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| Volume XXV, Number 4 | March 19, 2004 |
By Emma Brown
BRIGHTON — On February 20–22, the Brighton Reservation hosted The 66th Annual Seminole Arts & Crafts Field Day Festival and Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Rodeo.
November 1938 marked the beginning of the Field Day event which began as a “Day of Fun,” and was organized and produced by mainly non-Native Americans. It was deemed the Day of Fun because tribal citizens competed in different games and activities.
The most popular event back then was the horse race, which is still loved by many tribal citizens today. They also held a big barbecue and heard speeches from some of the leaders of the tribe. This day of fun was an all-Native American event, allowing family and friends from all reservations to gather together to have a grand time.
This year, the community began charging for admission, selling arts and crafts, and food. What started as one day fun and games with family and friends has now evolved into several days of fun and activities.
Folks travel from all over South and Central Florida to be part of the three-day arts and crafts festival and rodeo. This year, the festival started on Tuesday and ended on Sunday with the final performance of the (PRCA) Rodeo, which had standing room only for both performances.
During the festival week, the community held their annual Princess contest, golf tournament, pool tournament, walk/run, and cultural day for school children held on Friday each year. This is the day that the community invites surrounding school districts to bring their students out to the reservation on a cultural field trip and enjoy what the festival has to offer.
On Friday night, the Eastern Indian Rodeo Association (EIRA) held their annual Brighton Field Day Rodeo, which has all Native American cowboys and cowgirls competing in it. Each year on Saturday morning at 10 a.m., the parade kicks off the weekend as it travels through the festival grounds with its colorful and traditional display of department floats, four-wheelers, swamp buggies, local county and tribal politicians, and Native American cowboys and cowgirls dressed in traditional clothing.
Throughout the weekend, spectators could visit the Authentic Seminole Living Village, located on the festival grounds at the culture camp. They could also visit the arena stage to see Aztec fire dancers, cloggers, Seminole clothing contests, alligator wrestling and much more. Visitors could also browse the many arts and crafts booths, or sample traditional foods such as the famous Seminole pumpkin bread and Indian burgers.
To top off each day, the PRCA rodeo was held Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon, bringing in such a large crowd that there was only elbow room between spectators. Some reports suggested that this year’s crowd was the biggest ever.
The Brighton Field Day and Rodeo event has definitely come a long was since the 1930s. The tremendous growth of this festival says a great deal about the collaboration and efforts of the Seminole Tribe and those who have helped produce such a tremendous day of fun. There is a genuine interest in learning and appreciating the Seminole Indians.
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