Upcoming dates
On a Saturday afternoon late in September, the park at the center of University Place fills for three hours with drumming, dancing and the smell of fry bread. The Native Nations Festival is free, it runs from 3 to 6 p.m., and in 2026 it reached its fifth year. University Place states the purpose plainly: to learn about the culture and history of the Native Nations that call Utah home.
It is also easy to miss. There is no ticket to buy, very little advertising, and the whole thing is over by dinnertime. This guide covers what happens, who performs, the practical details, and what to expect in 2027.
The basics
- When: a Saturday in the second half of September, 3 to 6 p.m. The 2026 festival was September 19. The 2025 festival was September 20, and the 2024 festival was September 28.
- Where: The Orchard, the outdoor park inside University Place, 575 East University Parkway, Orem.
- Cost: free. Food is sold separately.
- Parking: free, including the parking garages, according to University Place.
- Who runs it: University Place hosts and sponsors it, in partnership with the Morning Star Native American Ensemble.
What happens, hour by hour
University Place posts a tentative schedule shortly before the festival and marks it subject to change. The 2024 version shows the usual shape: Alpine School District's Title 6 program at 3:20, the Morning Star ensemble at 4:00, the Timpanogos Nation at 4:30, a local family group at 5:00, and Morning Star again at 5:45 to close the afternoon. The sets are short, so a family that arrives at 4 still sees most of the program.
Around the stage there are booths on the history and culture of Utah's tribes, a craft table for children that runs while supplies last, and fry bread for sale. The 2024 announcement also promised traditional teepees on the lawn. Details shift from year to year, so check the University Place event page during festival week.
Who performs
The anchor is the Morning Star Native American Ensemble, which University Place names as its partner for the festival and which has performed in more than one year. The 2024 lineup also included students from Alpine School District's Title 6 program. Title 6 refers to the federal Indian Education program in public schools, and the district's program brings its students to this stage.
The Timpanogos Nation performed in 2024, and so did a local family group. The mix of a professional ensemble with students and families from this valley is a large part of the appeal. Some of the dancers you watch live a few miles away.
Utah's tribal nations, briefly
Utah has eight federally recognized tribes: the Northwestern Band of Shoshone Nation, the Confederated Tribes of Goshute, the Skull Valley Band of Goshute, the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and the Navajo Nation. They come from five cultures: Ute, Paiute, Goshute, Shoshone and Navajo. The Utah Office of Tourism counts roughly 60,000 Native Americans living in the state, from more than 50 tribal nations.
A few facts show the range. The state takes its name from the Ute. The Uintah and Ouray Reservation is the second-largest reservation in the country by land area. The Navajo Nation, which reaches into southeastern Utah, is the largest tribe in the United States, with roughly 400,000 enrolled members. The Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, a confederation of five bands (Cedar, Indian Peaks, Kanosh, Koosharem and Shivwits), had its federal recognition restored by Congress in 1980, and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe was recognized in 1989.
The festival's booths are the place to ask about any of it. They are staffed to answer questions, which is the point of the afternoon.
The name on the mountain
Utah Valley's own Native history is hiding in plain sight. Timpanogos, the name on the mountain above Orem, on a national monument cave and on a high school, is the name of the Ute band, the Tumpanawach or Timpanogos, that lived in this valley before settlement. In Payson, the Peteetneet Museum is named for a chief of that band, and a statue of him stands in front of the building.
Going: timing, parking and what to bring
- Arrive near 3 p.m. if children want a craft. Supplies run out.
- Park in any University Place garage and walk to The Orchard, the park at the center of the development. University Place says all of its parking is free.
- Bring a chair or a blanket. The Orchard is lawn and plaza, and University Place suggests bringing your own seating for its outdoor events.
- Bring a way to pay for food. Fry bread is sold on site. Carry cash and a card, since payment options can vary by vendor.
- Bring water. It is an outdoor afternoon event.
Watching respectfully
A few courtesies go a long way. Regalia is not a costume, and dancers put years of work into it, so look but do not touch. Listen to whoever is announcing, because some songs come with a request, such as standing or putting cameras away. If you want a close-up photo of a particular dancer away from the stage, ask first.
More in the valley that day, and after
The festival tends to land on a full Saturday. On September 19, 2026, University Place also held a European Cultural Festival from 5 to 9 p.m., and Payson held Festival Latino de Payson from noon to 9 p.m. at the Peteetneet Museum amphitheater, about half an hour's drive south. The Native Nations Festival is also part of University Place's run of fall cultural festivals, alongside the Utah Brazilian Festival.
November is Native American Heritage Month, when Utah's tribal nations are recognized with events around the state.
2027
University Place has not announced a 2027 date. The last three festivals were all Saturdays in the second half of September, all from 3 to 6 p.m., so plan on a similar weekend and watch the University Place events page from late summer. We will update this page when the date is posted.
Related Guides
- University Place: the complete guide to Orem's reinvented mall
- Things to do in Orem
- Festival Latino de Payson
- The Orem Asian Festival
- Obon and Japanese Utah
- Festivals across Utah Valley
Frequently Asked Questions
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