Desert Dwellers Head to Mountain Cool for Idyllwild Arts’ Native American Arts Festival

A short trip from the SoCal desert floor leads to the tiny forested town of Idyllwild, always a welcome departure on a scorching summer day. Your journey up Highway 74 climbs and curves, then glides past horse pastures and ranches on the way to the mountain retreat, embraced by the San Bernardino National Forest. The crisp mountain air mixed with timber smoke makes it light sweater weather in the evening, an abrupt contrast to the bathing suit you left drying poolside.

Plan a combination of village wandering and nature’s offerings. Idyllwild’s village is made up of a walk-able assemblage of cabin-like shops, restaurants and art galleries. Directly off the main highway, the Idyllwild Park Nature Center warrants some time during your visit, offering exhibits of area history and a self-guided nature trail through the surrounding forest.

Time your visit for the Native American Arts Festival

The much-revered Idyllwild Arts Foundation presents its annual Native American Arts Festival Week at the Idyllwild Arts campus from June 19 to June 24, 2022. The week-long event, which has run each summer in the mountain village for over two decades, returns following a hiatus due to COVID-19. Designed to enhance and enrich the Idyllwild Arts Summer Program, the festival with Native American arts-based programming including an invitation exhibition, demonstrations, Native food tastings, film screenings, and the Michael Kabotie Lecture Series.

As the only art high school in the country to offer a Native American Arts program, Idyllwild Arts is rooted in respect, reverence and support for Native American people, culture and art. Highlights of this year’s festival include the Opening Night Celebration “Welcoming Home the Birds,” featuring Native American Bird Singing, hands-on activities, traditional food tastings and artist vendors.

The week of programming will culminate on Friday with a live concert performance by Alaska’s Intuit Soul Musical Group, PAMYUA. All festival week events are free and open to the public. Idyllwild Arts is also proud to welcome Chef Freddie Bitsoie (Diné) as the resident guest chef who will provide an array of food tastings throughout the week, including recipe samples from his newly published cookbook, New Native Kitchen: Celebrating Modern Recipes of the American Indian.

For the full schedule of workshops and events, check here.

Courtesy photos/Cover photo credit, RJ Muna