Aug 10 | By Roberta John, guest contributor.

WINDOW ROCK, AZ. –And there was light….a colorful palette of beautiful lights. When ‘passersby’ drive through Window Rock in September, they will see an opulent rainbow light up the skies here in the Navajo Nation capital.

Case in point, for the first time in the Navajo Nation Fair’s history, a hot air balloon night glow will be featured during the “Largest American Indian Fair” in North America. A hot air balloon night glow is one of several new events that will be added to the grand daddy of all tribal fairs, which will be held on September 2-9th.

In concert with the fair’s theme, “Appreciating Tradition,” Navajo Nation Special Events staff and a host of volunteers are working diligently to launch an elaborate showcase of cultural Navajo beauty and extravaganza. It is estimated that more than 100,000 people attend the annual Navajo cultural festival.

“The Navajo Nation Fair is a time to feature and honor our people,” said Bowman. “We are happy to showcase the many talents of the Navajo people and share our cultural pride and beauty with other tribes and nationalities. This is a great time to accentuate the hard work and accomplishments of our people. I want to invite everyone to the Navajo Nation Fair and join us to revel and embrace the immense beauty of the Navajo people here in the Navajo Nation capital.”

Another new event that will be included in the 66th Annual Navajo Nation Fair is a free Christian rock concert by Hawk Nelson of Peterborough, Ontario Canada. Hawk Nelson will make its debut to the Navajo Nation on Sunday, September 2nd at the Window Rock Sports Center beginning at 8 p.m.

A fundraising golf tournament will be held on Wednesday, September 5th in Grants, New Mexico at the Coyote del Malpais Golf Course beginning at 10 a.m. Proceeds of the golf tournament will be used for the Navajo Nation Fair Livestock show and awards.

At 9 p.m. that evening, get ready to exercise your stomach muscles and be entertained by a lively line-up of five Native American comedians called 49 Laughs who will provide a culmination of fun and laughter after a 7 p.m. “Extreme Native Bull Riding” event at the Navajo Nation Fairgrounds.

If living life in eight seconds is not your forte, then a early morning run is what you may have been waiting for to get your adrenalin moving. And that’s what avid running enthusiasts will be doing on Saturday, September 8th during a 7 a.m. half marathon that will begin at the Navajo Nation Fair parade line up in Tse Bonito, N.M. just before the parade, which is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m.
It will be a double whammy for country music enthusiasts on Thursday, September 6th, when there will be a back-to –back country and western concert provided by Pueblo Country and Country Music Artist Gary Allen.

Pueblo Country of Laguna, New Mexico was the Battle of the Bands contest winner during the Fourth of July Celebration and PRCA Rodeo – they will open for Country Music Artist Gary Allen at 7:30 p.m. followed by a Gary Allen concert at 9 p.m.

Other Navajo Nation Fair events that will be held on September 2-9th include a junior rodeo, an Indian rodeo, an exceptional rodeo, a Nizhoni Arts Market, a wild horse race, a traditional Navajo song and dance competition, an inter-tribal pow wow, a livestock show, a Navajo Nation Energy Expo & Youth Science Competition, a carnival, a free barbecue, a fry bread contest, a farmer’s market, an inter-tribal night performance, a Hashkii Happy – Kids Day, a Miss Navajo Nation Pageant Butchering Contest, and other events.

For more information about sponsorship, event participation, tickets, schedule of events or other questions, please contact the Navajo Nation Special Events Office at (928) 871-7941 or visit their website here.