Nehantic Heritage Day Celebration

The Nehantic Native Nation and the East Lyme Historical Society are collaborating once again to organize Nehantic Heritage Day, their annual celebration of the Nehantic people at McCook Park in Niantic, Connecticut on Saturday, October 11, 2025, beginning at 11:00 a.m.

This year’s program starts with an opening ceremony overlooking Wigwam Rock, featuring the lighting of a traditional signal fire — echoing a historic Nehantic gathering practice. Following the ceremony, visitors can enjoy traditional drumming and dancing near the pavilion as well as hands-on cultural activities for families, including pottery making and a scavenger hunt for Nehantic animal names.

At 1:00 p.m., historian David Brule will present “King Philip’s War In Your Backyard” at the pavilion. The program continues with a panel discussion and Q&A with Brule and Dr. John Pfeiffer, offering insight into Indigenous history of the region.

“The Nehantic people have a deep history in this region extending back thousands of years,” said Dr. John Pfeiffer. “Nehantic Heritage Day is a chance to honor that heritage and bring the community together today.”

McCook Park sits adjacent to Niantic Bay with a view of Wigwam Rock, where historically the Nehantics lit fires to call their people together. Today the goal remains the same — to bring community members together to learn about Nehantic history and culture in a fun, family-friendly setting.

This program is free and open to the public. It is made possible thanks to contributions from the Nehantic Native Nation, the East Lyme Historical Society, the Town of East Lyme, and the Niantic Community Church.

For more information about the Nehantic Native Nation, visit https://nehanticnation.com.