Haudenosaunee wooden stick festival returns to Onondaga Lake Sept. 11-13

The American Indian Law Alliance is bringing back the 11th Annual Haudenosaunee Wooden Stick Festival for Sept. 11-13, 2026, with free public events at Onondaga Lake. The weekend centers on lacrosse’s Haudenosaunee origins and includes a memorial tournament, a 5K, cultural performances and an award dinner.

Why it matters: - The festival puts Haudenosaunee history and lacrosse’s origins at the center of a public weekend at Onondaga Lake. - The event is free and open to the public, which broadens access to cultural programming, sport and community fundraising. - Proceeds from the Alfie Jacques Ambassador Award Dinner support a college scholarship for Native American youth.

What happened: - The American Indian Law Alliance announced the 11th Annual Haudenosaunee Wooden Stick Festival weekend for Sept. 11-13, 2026. - The three-day celebration takes place at Onondaga Lake, with Friday events in Syracuse and Saturday-Sunday programming at the lake. - The weekend opens with the Alfie Jacques Ambassador Award Dinner on Friday evening. - Saturday and Sunday feature the festival, the Randy Hall Memorial Tournament, Smoke Dancing and the Restore Our Sacred Lake 5K. - Festival admission is free.

The details: - Lacrosse is known in the Onondaga language as Deyhontsigwa'ehs, meaning "They Bump Hips." - The festival is presented as a celebration of the Haudenosaunee origins of lacrosse and its role as the Creator's Game. - Organizers say the game has been played for more than 1,000 years. - The festival returns each year to the shores of Onondaga Lake, described as the birthplace of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. - The Peacemaker united the nations there under the Great Law of Peace. - The Alfie Jacques Ambassador Award Dinner is set for Friday, Sept. 11, at 5:00 p.m. at Bellevue Country Club, 1901 Glenwood Ave., Syracuse. - The dinner honors Alfie Jacques, the Onondaga stickmaker who crafted tens of thousands of traditional wooden lacrosse sticks over more than five decades. - The 2026 honorees are Dom Starsia, Michael Kennedy and Mike Kanatakeron Mitchell. - The award trophy is carved by Ryan Sandy of Six Nations. - Tickets are available at more information. - The Restore Our Sacred Lake 5K is a community run and walk along the shore of Onondaga Lake. - The race is open to runners and walkers of all ages and abilities. - Registration is available at register for the 5K. - The Randy Hall Memorial Tournament runs Saturday, Sept. 12, and Sunday, Sept. 13, at Onondaga Lake. - The tournament honors Randy Hall, an Akwesasne Mohawk who brought the game back to Onondaga Lake in 2013. - The festival also includes traditional stick-making demonstrations, Haudenosaunee singing and dancing, Indigenous food and craft artisans.

Between the lines: - The weekend mixes sport, cultural education and community fundraising, making the event both a celebration and a visibility tool for Haudenosaunee traditions. - The focus on Onondaga Lake ties the festival to land, language and identity, not just athletics. - The memorial tournament and scholarship support suggest the festival is built to preserve the game while investing in future players and students.

What's next: - Public registration is open now for the Restore Our Sacred Lake 5K. - More information about the full weekend is available at the festival website. - The festival is scheduled to unfold over Sept. 11-13, 2026, with the award dinner first and lakefront events following.

The bottom line: - The Haudenosaunee Wooden Stick Festival is returning as a free, three-day showcase of lacrosse, culture and restoration at Onondaga Lake.