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Tahlequah, OK - A variety of entertainment is on tap for the first annual Kanuche Festival, presented by the Cherokee Heritage Center and the Tahlequah Area Chamber of Commerce. The Bank of Cherokee County, the Tahlequah Area Chamber of Commerce Tourism Council and the Tulsa Teacher's Credit Union sponsor the free event. Event hours are Friday, October 18 from 2 to 7 p.m. and Saturday, October 19 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Entertainment scheduled for the event includes a Kanuche making demonstration at 5 p.m. on Friday, followed by singers and dancers ages three and older from Melissa's Dance Studio at 6 p.m.

Referred to as "little league of entertainers", the Oklahoma Kids feature entertainers from Tahlequah and Tulsa and will be performing at 11 a.m. on Saturday. At noon there will be a Kanuche demonstration and at 1 p.m. the Native American Music Award-winning Cherokee Children's Choir will take the stage.

At 2 p.m. festival goers will be entertained by Cherokee storyteller, Robert Lewis. The American Girlz, four young women from Broken Arrow will sing and dance performing 60s, 70s and 80s music at 3 p.m., followed by another Kanuche making demonstration at 4 p.m.

At 5 p.m., local country music singer Lista Murphy will entertain the audience. Native Circle, a local blues band will perform at 6 p.m. Band members are Rodney Buckhorn, Jon Buckhorn, and Reuben O'Field.

There will also be food and arts and crafts vendors set up on the grounds. Children's activities include a Jupiter jump and pony rides, along with an arrowhead hunt at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday morning. Attendees are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs. For more information, call (918) 456-6007.