Town Creek Indian Mound will host its annual Heritage Festival Saturday, Sept. 20.

As in years past, the festival will provide a traditional powwow atmosphere to the public, at a site used as ceremonial grounds for the Pee Dee culture nearly a thousand years ago.

The emcee for this event will be Ric Bird, professionally known as "Ric Youngblood" in the wrestling arena.

Grand entry will begin at noon, in front of the mound. This sacred ceremony, during which the dancers line up according to dance style and age, with soldiers or veterans of war leading, opens the day's festivities.

American Indian dancers will be dressed in colorful, traditional regalia and be accompanied by drumming and singing from the head drum group, Bird Chopper, a Cherokee drum and dance group. Ric Bird leads this group with many years of experience in performing at powwows throughout the country.

The guest drum for the event is Eastern Bull Drum. Eastern Bull Drum is a traditional and intertribal drum group based in Greenville, and founded on the philosophy of community involvement.

Eastern Bull visits between 30 to 40 schools throughout the year educating students about American Indian dance, music, and culture.

Vendors offering a wide variety of native arts and crafts will be on hand during the festival program. Native crafts, many handmade, will include such unique items as baskets, bags, and clothing, in addition to jewelry made from beads, copper and feathers.

The foods available will be the ever-popular buffalo meat wraps -- a meat which was the staple in the diet of many American Indians, as well as typical festival foods such as hot dogs and funnel cakes.

The admission fees are $4 for adults, $1 for children ages 4 to 13, and 3 and under free.

No rain date is scheduled. Lawn chairs are encouraged.

"Volunteers are always welcome, so anyone interested in helping out should contact the site at (910) 439-6802," says a spokesman.

The historic site is located on Town Creek Mound Road approximately five miles east of Mt. Gilead, in southern Montgomery County between N.C. 73 and N.C. 731.

For information on Town Creek, contact the site at (910) 439-6802, by e-mail towncreek@ ncmail.net, or visit www.towncreek.nchistoricsites.org.