Due to forecasted storms, free sand for sandbags is now available on a first-come, first-serve basis at nine City of Phoenix parks.
Free Portal to the Past Festival Celebrates Indigenous Culture and Water Heritage in Phoenix
Experience S’edav Va’aki Museum (SVM) and Cultural Coalition’s eighth annual Portal to the Past Festival (Portal Fest) and the new Indigenous Identities exhibit for FREE on Nov. 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
This year, Portal Fest is offering a wide variety of entertainment and activities that highlight the water heritage and ingenuity of the Ancestral O’Odham, the original inhabitants of the Valley of the Sun. During the festival, attendees will enjoy additional programs including, live music, dance performances, artist demonstrations, and family friendly arts and crafts that further explore the history and importance of water in the desert.
SVM and Cultural Coalition are also excited to announce that the Toka Tournament will return for the fourth year in a row from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Teams from the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, the Gila River Indian Community, and the Tohono O’Odham Nation will be playing in a round robin format. Toka is a traditional game played by women of all ages from the O’Odham communities and resembles a mix of field hockey and lacrosse. Games are played in dirt and can be very intense so don’t miss out!
Event Details
Date: Saturday, Nov. 21, 2026
Location: S’edav Va’aki Museum, 4619 E. Washington St.,
Phoenix, AZ 85034
Festival Hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Admission: Free and open to the public
Event Schedule
Time | Scheduled Activity |
9:30 a.m. – Noon | Round-Robin Toka Tournament |
Noon – 12:05 p.m. | Welcome by S’edav Va’aki Museum |
12:05 – 12:45 p.m. | Cruz Waila Band |
12:55 – 1:15 p.m. | Keli Akimel Basket Dancers from Gila River Indian Community |
1:15 – 1:25 p.m. | The Importance of Water |
1:30 – 2 p.m. | Cruz Waila Band |
Ongoing Activities
Time | Scheduled Activity |
10 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Crafts for Kids Station |
10 a.m. – 2 p.m. | O’odham and Piipaash Artist Demonstrations |
10 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Traditional Technology Demonstrations by SALT (Study of Ancient Lifeways and Technologies) |
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Artifact Show and Tell Station |
Free and open to the public. Festival admission includes access to the Museum's main gallery, archaeological trail and new Indigenous Identities exhibit. We thank the S’edav Va’aki Museum Foundation, Desert Diamond Casino, Central Arizona Project, Salt River Project, and Arizona Humanities for supporting this festival.
For additional information, please visit culturalcoaltion.com/portalfest/
