A Seasonal Celebration of Culture, Craft, and Community
In the tradition of our moon cycles, four times a year the Mashantucket Pequot Museum carries on the cultural honoring and celebration of each new season in a beautiful way by welcoming guests from across the globe to experience our culture, our songs, our food, and our way of life.
Schedule of Events
Maple Moon Breakfast Experience 9-11am
Start your day with a specially curated breakfast experience highlighting seasonal ingredients, traditional foodways, and the spirit of the Maple Moon. Presented in collaboration with agricultural experts and cultural partners.
The Maple Moon Breakfast is presented in partnership with the MPTN Agricultural Department and the UConn Extension Program.
Maple Moon Vendor Market 10am-4pm
Explore a vibrant marketplace featuring Native vendors, artisans, and small-scale makers. Special features include, Meechoook Farm, The Alliance of the Mystic Watershed and additional community exhibitors.
Song & Dance Performances
Celebrate the energy and beauty of Indigenous movement traditions with live performances throughout the day.
Special Feature
Hoop Dance Demonstration by Creedan Schenandoah
Haudenosaunee Confederacy, Oneida – Wolf Clan
Experience the artistry and athleticism of one of the most iconic Indigenous dance forms.
Arts & Crafts 10am-4pm
Family-friendly, hands-on activities inspired by traditional and contemporary Indigenous arts.
Maple Demonstrations
Live demonstrations showcasing traditional maple harvesting practices, cultural teachings, and syrup-making techniques.
Wayamush Beverage Station
Enjoy traditional beverages crafted with seasonal ingredients and Indigenous food knowledge.
Food Samples
Taste Indigenous-inspired culinary offerings prepared with seasonal flavors and cultural significance.
Quillwork Workshop 11 am-1 pm
Learn the intricate, traditional art of quillwork from award-winning artist Ayanna Proctor (Piscataway Nation, Turtle Clan). Participants will create their own art piece using ancestral woodland techniques.
$100 Non-Members | $75 Members
Storytelling 11 am
Featuring Nkéke Harris
Experience oral traditions through stories rooted in Native history, community, and the natural world.
Kunâhneepamuhshâtunônak
“Our Moons” Presentation
The concept of the “Thirteen Moons” is a core element of the Pequot people’s cultural and spiritual traditions. It represents the cycle of the lunar year, with each moon symbolizing a different aspect of nature, life, or spiritual growth. This tradition is a way of aligning the rhythms of human life with those of the natural world, deeply connecting the Pequot people to their environment and the passage of time.
Sugar Shack: The Weekápaheek Project
Come learn about the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation (MPTN) Agriculture Department’s rich history and how it continues to play a significant role in the production of maple syrup at the Mashantucket Sugar Shack.
The department takes great care in ensuring the health of the trees and maintaining the purity of the sap in addition to involving the youth in the process, teaching them about their culture and traditions while imparting useful life skills.
