Native American Holiday Arts and Crafts Market

Litchfield Hills is dotted with many holiday fairs and festivals.  For those that are looking for something really unusual, take a trip to the Institute for American Indian Studies on 38 Curtis Road in Washington Connecticut to shop for authentic Native American Arts and Crafts.

At the Institute’s annual Native American Holiday Arts and Crafts Market you will find a wide array of unusual holiday gifts from local Native American crafters.  The Native American Holiday Arts and Crafts Market is taking place at the Institute on November 24 and 25, December 1 and 2, and December 8 and 9.  This special Native American Holiday Market will be open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sundays from 12 noon to 5 p.m.  The entrance to the Holiday Market is free!

Here you will find something truly unique for everyone from Native American jewelers, and artists that offer their creations at a variety of price points!  A highlight of the Market is the chance to meet and buy directly from the artists while learning about contemporary Native American art, crafts, and cultures. Just some of the treasures to be found here are decorative gourds, pottery, jewelry, rattles, artwork, flutes, and much more!

Litchfield Hills Archaeology Club Lecture

If you are at the Holiday Market on December 2 and have an interest in archeology and Native American Culture you might want to pop into the Litchfield Hills Archaeology Club Lecture Series from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.   Dr. Nicholas Bellantoni, Associate Professor at UCONN and emeritus State Archaeologist, will be discussing his new book The Long Journey Home: The Repatriations of Henry ‘Opukah’ia and Albert Afraid of Hawk. 

The book chronicles the repatriation of the remains of two Native men and the efforts of those involved in the process.  Dr. Bellantoni will give a lively talk discussing his involvement in the project and the writing of his book. Copies of his book will be available in the gift shop for purchase and Dr. Bellantoni will be on hand after the lecture to answer questions and sign books.

About Institute For American Indian Studies 

Located on 15 woodland acres the IAIS has an outdoor Three Sisters and Healing Plants Gardens as well as a replicated 16th c. Algonquian Village.  Inside the museum, authentic artifacts are displayed in permanent, semi-permanent and temporary exhibits from prehistory to the present that allows visitors a walk through time. The Institute for American Indian Studies is located on 38 Curtis Road in Washington Connecticut and can be reached online or by calling 860-868-0518.

The Institute for American Indian Studies preserves and educates through discovery and creativity the diverse traditions, vitality, and knowledge of Native American cultures. Through archaeology, the IAIS is able to build new understandings of the world and history of Native Americans; the focus is on stewardship and preservation.  This is achieved through workshops, special events, and education for students of all ages.

Beaver Moon Walk - November 23

The Institute for American Indian Studies located on 38 Curtis Road in Washington Connecticut has planned a variety of events for November and December that will be fun for the entire family from learning about the Beaver Moon and joining the Litchfield Hills Archaeology Club for a lecture to shopping for authentic Native American Arts and Crafts at the Annual Holiday Market.

Beaver Moon Walk

November 23 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. is the perfect time to get outside and walk off some of that Thanksgiving Day Dinner with the staff of the Institute.  On this walk, weather permitting guests will learn about the Beaver Moon, nighttime phenomena that people in the Eastern Woodlands have been experiencing for thousands of years.


The Beaver Moon that occurs only in November is more important than you think because it signals the start of winter and is the closest the moon gets to the Earth in its lunar cycle which is why it looks so full.  Symbolic Native American full moon names offer a personality to each month.  In November, Native Americans knew that beavers come into their fullness and would set traps for them early in the month.


The walk concludes with hot cider by the fire in the Institute’s replicated Algonquian Village. The cost of this walk is free for members of IAIS and $5 for nonmembers.

About Institute For American Indian Studies 

Located on 15 woodland acres the IAIS has an outdoor Three Sisters and Healing Plants Gardens as well as a replicated 16th c. Algonkian Village.  Inside the museum, authentic artifacts are displayed in permanent, semi-permanent and temporary exhibits from prehistory to the present that allows visitors a walk through time. The Institute for American Indian Studies is located on 38 Curtis Road in Washington Connecticut and can be reached online or by calling 860-868-0518.

The Institute for American Indian Studies preserves and educates through discovery and creativity the diverse traditions, vitality, and knowledge of Native American cultures. Through archaeology, the IAIS is able to build new understandings of the world and history of Native Americans; the focus is on stewardship and preservation.  This is achieved through workshops, special events, and education for students of all ages.