61st Annual Mul-Chu-Tha Fair & Rodeo Returns, Kicks Off with Community Day

March 20, 2026

GRIN Staff

Gila River Indian News

SACATON, Ariz. — The 61st Annual Mul-Chu-Tha Fair & Rodeo made its return to the Gila River Indian Community March 13-15, with the theme “Celebrating Traditional Artistry Across Generations”. It featured many events including carnival, parade, rodeo, pow-wow, cultural games, sports, car show, chicken scratch battle of the bands, arts & crafts, food vendors, and musical entertainment.

The sunrise on March 13 felt different from any other in the Gila River Indian Community. It was the kind of heat that usually waited until late spring, but this year it arrived early, felt more like midsummer than the doorstep of spring, almost as if the desert itself had been waiting for Mul-Chu-Tha Fair & Rodeo to return. The fair was back, and that mattered more than the temperature.

The cancellation of the 2025 MCT had left a quiet emptiness in the Community. The elders had made the decision out of concern for safety, and though everyone respected it, the absence of the MCT festivities felt like a missing piece of the year. Mul-Chu-Tha wasn’t just a celebration; it was a gathering of hearts, a reminder of shared roots.

Mul-Chu-Tha was back this year and despite the heat, no one stayed home and that meant more than the temperature ever could.

From the first light of Friday morning, the rodeo grounds were alive. It began early each morning, before the heat grew too heavy. It was one of the most beloved parts of MCT and this year it felt even more special. Children, teenagers, and adults all took part; each category brings its kind of pride. Barrel racing, roping, and riding with a determination that showed how deeply the tradition lived in them. Their skill wasn’t just talent; it was memory, heritage, and years of practice. Even as the temperature climbed to unseasonable heights, the stands stayed packed with families cheering through the dust.

At the fairgrounds, the heat rose quickly. By midmorning, people were fanning themselves with programs, laughing about how the weather had decided to join the celebration. Volunteers set out coolers filled with ice water, and people arrived with hats, umbrellas, and wide smiles. The excitement was stronger than the sun; children didn’t seem to mind. Attendees were treated to a free dinner and carnival rides for the ‘Community Day’ festivities that also included the Tribal Education Department’s art and essay contest winners, Elders and Veteran of the Year Award presentation, followed by a coronation dance for the newly crowned Gila River Royalty court with music provided by Eagleheart.

By Saturday morning, the MCT parade had turned the streets into a wave of colors. There’s something special about seeing the Community line the route, families sitting in the shade of pop-up tents. Seeing them there, after the long wait and the worries of the previous year, made the sweat and the sun feel like a secondary thought with over 50 parade floats and entries.

Making all three days free of charge for admission changed the energy of the whole weekend. It wasn’t about tickets or gates; it was about open doors, more like a family reunion where everyone was invited. Several events continued at the fairgrounds and concluded with musical entertainment by AntoineX, an Oglala Lakota/Umonhon rapper, singer, and song-writer.

Traditional games of Toka and Shoñgivul were held Sunday morning just outside the fairgrounds, while the rodeo, pow-wow, battle of the bands, cultural circle, carnival and entertainment continued. A car show was also held at the Ira H. Hayes Veterans Memorial Park which also included musical performances, arts & crafts, food vendors, and raffles. As the sun finally began to dip on the third day, turning a deep orange, the kind of color that only appears after a hot day in the desert. The smell of the fry bread drifted through the air, and people gathered in long lines, sharing stories about the carnival rides and other food around the fairgrounds.

The Mul-Chu-Tha proved once again that while the weather might be unpredictable, the spirit of the Gila River Indian Community is rock solid.