Feathers, Drums & Forest Vibes: A Sasquatch’s Take on the 2025 Native Roots Festival in Helen, GA
You ever hear powwow drums echo through the mountains while you’re just trying to enjoy a quiet nap behind a waterfall? That’s how I stumbled (literally) into the 2025 Native Roots Festival in Helen, Georgia—an event so rich in culture, rhythm, and spirit that even an old forest beast like me had to stick around.
Held this year on Saturday, May 17, the festival takes place at the breathtaking Anna Ruby Falls, a perfect backdrop for a celebration of Indigenous culture and traditions. The Native Roots Festival is one of North Georgia’s most unique cultural gatherings, bringing together Native American educators, artisans, dancers, and musicians to share their heritage with the public.
What’s it all about?
The event honors Indigenous roots through storytelling, live music, drumming circles, flute performances, and ceremonial dance. Tribal representatives share insights about their history and way of life, while vendors line the grounds with handmade crafts, beadwork, traditional foods, and herbal goods that would make even a seasoned forager jealous.
Educational booths are set up to teach about land stewardship, native languages, and the deep spiritual connection between Indigenous communities and nature. There’s no ticket fee, and it’s a family-friendly event—unless your idea of a family is 12 raccoons and a half-tame possum (no judgment).
Why it’s special—even to a Sasquatch
As a local legend and part-time mystic (mainly because I wear a feathered headband unironically), I’ve seen many festivals come through Helen. But this one’s different. There’s a reverence in the air. A heartbeat that seems to sync with the waterfalls. Whether you’re here to learn, shop, or just vibe out to the sound of the wind flute, you leave the Native Roots Festival feeling a little more connected to something bigger than yourself.
Now, I won’t get too commercial on ya…
…but if you’re walking back into downtown Helen after the festival and need a way to keep that relaxed energy going, swing by my shop, Bigfoot Novelty and Tobacco. I keep it stocked with premium cigars, top-shelf vapes, and the new Sasquatch Zipper THCP Mocktails—a chill, non-alcoholic option that pairs perfectly with mountain sunsets and post-festival deep thoughts.
The mocktails are made with THCP, a hemp-derived compound that offers a mellow body buzz without taking your feet off the trail. Great for unwinding and reflecting on all the wisdom you just soaked up at the festival.
Final Footprint
Whether you’re a local, a tourist, or a blurry creature seen only in trail cam footage, the Native Roots Festival is worth making tracks for. It’s not just a celebration—it’s a lesson in history, humanity, and harmony with nature.
See you in the woods,
Bigfoot Dave
