In the desert, water has always been a big deal. On Nov. 21, S’edav Va’aki Museum celebrates the Indigenous ingenuity, traditions and communities connected to that essential resource. Your admission price? Zero.
Presented by the museum and Cultural Coalition, the eighth annual Portal to the Past Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Expect live music, dance, artist demonstrations and family activities highlighting the water heritage of the Ancestral O’Odham, the Valley’s original inhabitants.
It’s a chance to explore the region’s deep roots while connecting with Indigenous cultures and traditions that remain very much alive today.
The action starts early with the fourth annual Toka Tournament. Teams from the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Gila River Indian Community and Tohono O’Odham Nation compete in a round-robin format from 9:30 a.m. to noon.
Traditionally played by Tohono O’Odham Nation women of all ages, Toka resembles a mix of field hockey and lacrosse. Played on dirt, it delivers plenty of intensity. Consider this your cue to arrive early.
Following the museum’s noon welcome, Cruz Waila Band performs from 12:05 to 12:45 p.m. The Keli Akimel Basket Dancers from the Gila River Indian Community take the spotlight from 12:55 to 1:15 p.m., followed by “The Importance of Water” from 1:15 to 1:25 p.m. Cruz Waila Band returns from 1:30 to 2 p.m.
Throughout the festival, visitors can watch Tohono O’Odham Nation and Piipaash artist demonstrations, explore traditional technologies with SALT — Study of Ancient Lifeways and Technologies — and get creative at the kids’ craft station. An artifact show-and-tell station runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., continuing after the festival ends.
Free admission includes access to the museum’s main gallery, archaeological trail and new Indigenous Identities exhibit. The roughly 1,500-year-old archaeological site features a platform mound and ballcourt, with an accessible interpretive trail.
Come for the music and competition. Leave with a deeper appreciation of the people and knowledge that helped communities thrive in the desert.
Insider Takeaways
- Date and admission: Saturday, Nov. 21, 2026. Free and open to everyone.
- Hours: Festival, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.; Toka Tournament, 9:30 a.m.–noon; artifact show-and-tell, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
- Location: S’edav Va’aki Museum, 4619 E. Washington St., Phoenix.
- Included: Main gallery, archaeological trail and Indigenous Identities exhibit.
- Family appeal: Kids’ crafts, artist demonstrations, traditional technologies, live music and dance.
- Getting there: Accessible via the PHX Sky Train and the 44th Street/Washington light rail station.
For additional information, visit phoenix.gov/SVmuseum or call 602-495-0901.
