2026 Fair Week Stick Off

Don’t miss your chance to experience this action-packed start to the fair.

October 5 – October 10

The 114th Cherokee Indian Fair Stick Off Stickball Tournament kicks off the week of festivities for the annual Cherokee Indian Fair with an adrenaline-filled celebration of culture and tradition! Once used to settle tribal disputes before they led to war, Stickball is far more than just a game for the Cherokee people—it’s a symbol of unity, strength, and heritage. Today, this ancient sport continues to thrive, regularly played across the Cherokee Nation, and especially here in Western North Carolina by teams from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.