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On Mother's Day weekend each May, the Eucalyptus Grove across from Stanford Stadium fills with the sound of drums. Dancers in regalia move around a dirt arena, vendors sell beadwork, jewelry and frybread. Families camp under the trees for three days. The Stanford Powwow has been held on campus since 1971. It is run entirely by students. Stanford's student newspaper has described it as the largest student-run powwow in the country.
For visitors, it is one of the most rewarding public events on the Stanford calendar. It is also a cultural and spiritual gathering, not a show put on for tourists. This guide covers the powwow's history, what happens over the weekend and the rules and customs that make you a welcome guest. For other campus visits, see our Stanford visitor guide.
Dates for 2027
The organizers' website lists the 56th Annual Stanford Powwow for May 7 to 9, 2027 in the Eucalyptus Grove. Mother's Day falls on May 9, 2027, so the dates fit the usual pattern. Parts of the site still showed information from earlier years when we checked in October 2026, so confirm the dates and schedule closer to the weekend on the Stanford Powwow site.
The 55th powwow ran from Friday, May 8 to Sunday, May 10, 2026. Our May guide covers the rest of the month, which also brings the May Fete Parade and the run-up to Stanford commencement.
History
The first Stanford Powwow took place on May 1, 1971. Stanford says it was first hosted by the Stanford American Indian Organization, the Native student group. According to Stanford Magazine, ads for the event said it would "highlight Native culture to the local community and raise money for student financial aid." The two-day dance was also held to honor the Sioux men, women and children killed by the U.S. Cavalry at Wounded Knee in 1890. The magazine credits Dean Chavers, a Lumbee graduate student who had taken part in the occupation of Alcatraz in 1970, as a key organizer. He said one of the main goals was to support Native students on campus, especially homesick freshmen.
The powwow grew out of a time of change at Stanford. In 1969 only four Native undergraduates were enrolled and Native students wrote to the university's president asking for more recruitment and support. A Stanford report says the students also started the powwow to counter the image of the university's Indian mascot. In 1972, after pressure from the Stanford American Indian Organization, Stanford dropped the mascot. The Native American Cultural Center opened in 1974.
The event has grown from a two-day dance into a three-day gathering. Stanford Magazine has estimated attendance at about 30,000 over the weekend, roughly half of them Native. The pandemic forced the 50th anniversary online in 2020 and 2021. The powwow returned in person in 2022. Today the planning starts in the fall, with about 15 student committees working under co-chairs alongside the Native American Cultural Center.
The land itself has a much older history. Stanford sits on the ancestral territory of the Muwekma Ohlone. Our guide to the Ohlone and the land before 1769 tells that story.
What happens over the weekend
Grand Entry
Each session opens with the Grand Entry, when dancers enter the arena together in a procession led by flag carriers and honored guests. It is the most striking moment of the day. In a past schedule posted by the organizers, Grand Entry was at 7 p.m. on Friday, at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday and at 1 p.m. on Sunday. Check the current schedule, since times can change.
Dance and drum contests
The Stanford Powwow is a contest powwow. Dancers compete by age group and style in several rounds over the weekend. Drum groups compete too, including a hand drum contest. In 2026 student organizers raised about $60,000 in donations for prize money, with top payouts of $1,000 or $800 in a category, to match prizes on the wider powwow circuit. Dancers and drummers register in person at the registration booth from Friday evening.
Intertribal dances
Between contest rounds the emcee calls intertribal dances. Sometimes the emcee invites everyone, including visitors, into the arena. Join only when the emcee says so. Follow the dancers' lead.
Vendors and food
A large market rings the grove. In 2022 organizers expected nearly 100 food, craft and information vendors. Expect Native artists selling beadwork, silver jewelry, clothing and art, plus frybread and other food. Bring cash in case some vendors do not take cards.
Fun Run
The powwow weekend includes an annual 5K Fun Run and walk with registration through Eventbrite. In 2026 even Stanford's president ran it.
Visitor etiquette
The organizers publish a short set of firm rules for the grounds. Breaking them can get you asked to leave without a refund:
- No drugs or alcohol anywhere on the powwow grounds.
- No fires of any kind, including barbecues and campfires.
- No pets. Pets are not allowed in on-campus public spaces and the university also restricts emotional support animals. Service animals are welcome.
Beyond those rules, the powwow follows the customs common at powwows across the country. The emcee runs the arena and announces what is expected, so listen closely. These general courtesies will keep you on the right side of things:
- Stand when asked. Stand and remove your hat for the Grand Entry, the flag songs, honor songs and prayers when the emcee asks.
- Stay out of the arena unless the emcee invites the public in for an intertribal dance. Do not walk across the arena to take a shortcut.
- Call it regalia, not a costume. Dancers' outfits are often handmade, passed down or deeply personal. Do not touch regalia or feathers.
- Ask before photographing individual dancers or families up close. Put the camera away when the emcee says no photos.
- Leave the front seats for dancers and elders. Bring your own folding chair and set it up behind the reserved arbor seating.
- If a dancer drops a feather, do not pick it up. Let the dancers and arena staff handle it.
- Support the artists. Buy directly from Native vendors rather than haggling hard on handmade work.
Most of all, come curious. Organizers have described the powwow as a chance to learn about Native people directly from Native people, in their own words.
Parking, camping and getting there
The powwow takes place in the Eucalyptus Grove next to the Galvez lot and across from Stanford Stadium. In 2026 all vehicles paid a parking fee except vendors, with single-day and multi-day passes sold through the organizers and no refunds. Bus drop-off in the Galvez lot was also charged. Accessible parking was in the Galvez lot for guests with state disability placards or plates, with a drop-off zone if the lot filled.
The organizers also sell camping passes. In 2026 each campsite allowed one tent, two cars and either an RV or travel trailer, with shower access at a nearby athletic facility on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Camping check-in ran Friday evening and Saturday, with no check-in on Sunday.
Without a car, take Caltrain to Palo Alto station and walk about 20 to 25 minutes toward the stadium along Palm Drive and Arboretum Road. Stanford's Marguerite shuttle main lines run Monday to Friday only, so they help on Friday but not on the weekend. Our Stanford parking and transit guide has the details.
Good to know
- The organizers list accessible bathrooms, accessible seating and parking, free fidgets and earplugs.
- May afternoons can be warm in the grove and evenings cool quickly. Bring layers, water and sunscreen.
- Questions go to the organizers at [email protected].
- Mother's Day weekend can be busy for Peninsula hotels. You can compare hotels near Stanford early.
Planning your visit
Most visitors come for an afternoon. Arrive before the 1 p.m. Grand Entry on Saturday or Sunday, find a spot behind the arbor, then browse the vendors between contest rounds. Families with young children will find plenty of space to sit under the trees. If you want to stay longer, the evening Grand Entry on Saturday is a highlight. For more on visiting the campus, see our guides to staying near Stanford and the history of Stanford University.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Stanford Powwow in 2027?
The organizers' website lists the 56th Annual Stanford Powwow for May 7 to 9, 2027, in the Eucalyptus Grove on campus. That is Mother's Day weekend, as is traditional. Parts of the site were still out of date in October 2026, so confirm closer to the event.
Is the Stanford Powwow open to the public?
Yes. The powwow is open to everyone and draws thousands of visitors, both Native and non-Native. All vehicles pay a parking fee except vendors, with single-day and multi-day passes sold through the organizers.
When did the Stanford Powwow start?
The first Stanford Powwow was held on May 1, 1971. Stanford says the Stanford American Indian Organization first hosted it. Stanford Magazine describes it as a two-day dance that honored the victims of the 1890 massacre at Wounded Knee and raised money for student financial aid.
Can I take photos at the Stanford Powwow?
General photos of the grounds are usually fine, but ask before photographing individual dancers or families up close. Listen to the emcee, who announces when photos and video are not allowed, such as during some honor songs and ceremonies.
Can I bring my dog to the Stanford Powwow?
No. The organizers say pets are not allowed in on-campus public spaces and the university also restricts emotional support animals there. Service animals are welcome at the powwow.