For the four year, Atlanta is excited to welcome back the First Voices Festival, a massive celebration of Indigenous culture, art, and activism right here in Atlanta. With tons of traditional food, activities, and storytelling, you don’t want to miss out on this multifaceted and important festival. Keep scrolling to find out all about the First Voices Festival hosted in Little 5 Points!
The First Voices Festival lineup
The entire festival runs from November 14th – November 28th, 2025, with many different events happening during the month-long celebration!
This festival is produced by 7 Stages, Turtle Island Trading, Little 5 Points Cultural District, Zintkala Zi PowWow, Plaza Theatre and Out of Hand Theater to create a wonderful lineup of fun, education, and expression!
Why does Atlanta have a First Voices Festival?
The First Voices Festival first began a few years ago, in 2022, when a handful of ATL organizations realized that the city didn’t have a multifaceted festival dedicated to celebrating Indigenous cultures, like it should. By collaborating, these groups created the First Voices Festival, which works to celebrate, educate, and uplift the voices of Indigenous people.
At the center of all of these events is the Powwow, a traditional gathering with dance, music, food and socializing that originated among Native American tribes on the Great Plains.
7 Stages explains,
For some, gathering in Atlanta marks a return to ancestral lands. Areas of what are now Georgia and Alabama were the territory of Muscogee (Creek) people, until many were forcibly relocated to Oklahoma in the 1800s where they were exposed to Plains Powwow traditions. Today Powwows are popular all over the United States and Canada, and many people wanted to see such an event in the heart of Atlanta.
What can festival goers expect at the 2025 First Voices Festival?
There are a ton of festival events that you don’t want to miss! Let us give you the rundown of events:
Art of Activism at 7 Stages Theatre
When: November 14th @ 7pm
The festival begins with a night of storytelling, music, and traditional foods, hosted at 7 Stages in Little 5 Points. William Harjo, a Muscogee (Creek) Elder who presents all over the country, will be a special guest to the event, along with a pre-show reception of sweet and savory Fry Bread & lemonade in the lobby provided by food vendor and chef Tina Reyes (Apache) of Rez Juice.
Two-day outdoor PowWow
When: November 15th – 16th (10am – 5pm)
Arguably the biggest event of the festival, the First Voices PowWow is presented by Zintkala Zi PowWow, which is led by Buffalo Yellowbird, a citizen of Oglala Lakota Nation. The First Voices Festival Powwow includes traditional drummers and dancers, traditional foods (fry bread, buffalo burgers, roasted corn, etc.), Indigenous vendors (jewelry, arts and crafts), demonstrations, and storytelling. Entry to these events is free, they are family friendly, and everyone is welcome.
And if you are non-native, and you’d like to attend the festival, you can read up on all the etiquette here!Out of Hand Theater’s presentation of Say Their Names at 7 Stages
When: November 21st
Out of Hand Theater is presenting Say Their Names at 7 Stages, which will feature interwoven film and live performances written by Marcie Rendon, acclaimed author and citizen of the White Earth Nation.
Following the presentation will be a community conversation about the lack of media representation for victims in marginalized communities, and how we can create a collective framework for continued dialogue, healing, and action.
She Cried That Day screening at Plaza Theatre
When: November 28th
The final event of the festival is a screening of She Cried That Day, a film directed by Amanda Erickson, a member of the San Carlos Apache, who grew up in Peachtree City and earned her film degree at GSU. She Cried That Day is a film about missing and murdered Indigenous women in New Mexico. Following the screening is a post-show conversation with director, Erickson.
Enjoy celebrating Native Voices and Indigenous culture this November at the First Voices Festival!
Learn more about First Voices Festival on their website here!Don’t miss the First Voices Festival, Atlanta! And as always, tag us in your posts at the event, @secret_atlanta on Instagram.