By Judaea Ingram
Special To The Carolinian
PEMBROKE, N.C. — Thousands of Lumbee citizens and visitors from across North Carolina and beyond are returning to Pembroke this week as the 57th Annual Lumbee Homecoming transforms the community into a celebration of Native American heritage, family traditions and cultural pride.
Running from June 26 through July 4, the nine-day celebration is recognized as one of the largest and most anticipated Native American cultural events in the Southeast. The annual gathering brings together generations of Lumbee families for a week filled with pageantry, music, food, athletic competitions, cultural programming and opportunities to honor the history and future of the Lumbee Tribe.
This year's celebration carries added significance as it marks the first Lumbee Homecoming since the tribe received federal recognition, giving organizers and community members another reason to celebrate a milestone many generations spent decades working to achieve.
The festivities officially began June 26 with a new Kick-Off Celebration and Fireworks Show, launching more than a week of events that showcase the traditions, resilience and vibrant culture of the Lumbee people.
While Homecoming has grown into one of southeastern North Carolina's signature celebrations, its roots date back nearly six decades. The event officially began in 1968, one year after Cheryl Ransom Locklear was crowned the first Miss Lumbee. What started with a beauty pageant has since evolved into a week-long cultural celebration that draws thousands of attendees each year.
For many Lumbee families, Homecoming is more than an annual festival. It is a homecoming in the truest sense, bringing together relatives and friends who travel back to Pembroke from across the country to reconnect with loved ones, celebrate shared traditions and pass those traditions on to younger generations.
Throughout the week, visitors can experience a variety of activities highlighting Lumbee history and culture. The Lumbee Homecoming Outdoor Market features local vendors, artists and small businesses, while exhibits at the Museum of the Southeast American Indian provide opportunities to learn about the tribe's rich heritage. The celebration also includes the second annual Chicken Cook-Off Contest, athletic competitions, pageants at the Givens Performing Arts Center, cultural lectures and live musical performances.
One of this year's featured events is the eighth annual Lumbee Film Festival, scheduled for July 6. The festival highlights original films created by Native American filmmakers, with a special emphasis on Southeastern tribal communities and members of the Lumbee Tribe. Presented through a partnership between the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina and the Cucalorus Film Foundation, the festival continues to create opportunities for Native storytellers to share their perspectives through film.
Festival Director Cheyenne Oxendine said the event welcomes both Native filmmakers and movie lovers alike.
"The Lumbee Film Festival is for Native American filmmakers and for anyone who loves movies," Oxendine said. "This year's films cover important topics the world needs to hear, and we need to share."
The festival reflects Homecoming's broader mission of celebrating Native voices across multiple forms of artistic expression while encouraging future generations to tell their own stories.
The celebration reaches its peak on July 4 with many of Homecoming's most anticipated traditions. Activities include a community parade, a traditional powwow, outdoor gospel singing, a vintage car show, a free carnival, a veterans sky show and the season premiere of the historical outdoor drama Strike at the Wind. The annual Kiwanis 5K and additional family-friendly activities round out a day that brings together residents, visitors and returning Lumbee families.
Beyond the scheduled events, Lumbee Homecoming serves as an annual reminder of the importance of preserving culture while strengthening community ties. Through music, storytelling, food, art and fellowship, the celebration provides an opportunity for visitors to experience the hospitality and traditions that have defined the Lumbee people for generations.
As thousands gather under this year's theme, "Welcome Home Lumbees," the celebration continues to honor the tribe's past while embracing its future. More than 57 years after its beginnings, Lumbee Homecoming remains a powerful expression of identity, resilience and the enduring importance of coming home.
