Traditional Craft Days
Throughout the year we host various days highlighting traditional craft methods used by the Kumeyaay.
Come join us appreciate and celebrate Kumeyaay culture with fun traditional crafts & activities that are FREE to the community.
Valentine's Craft Day
Join us for our 2nd annual Valentine's Craft Day! Let's celebrate a day of love and friendship with music, crafts, games, and yummy snacks!
Saturday, February 10, 2024
10:00AM-4:00PM
This event is FREE to all visitors of IVDM, no reservations required.
Tule Boats
Tule boats were originally made by the Kumeyaay and neighboring tribes, constructed from locally sourced materials, tule must be harvested from freshwater marshes. These boats provided trade, fishing, and transportation in oceans, lakes, and rivers. Will yours float?
Saturday, February 17, 2024
10:00AM-4:00PM
This event is FREE to all visitors of IVDM, no reservations required.
Granaries
After harvesting acorns and plants the Kumeyaay made granaries (storage baskets) to protect food from insects, rodents, birds and moisture. Made from aromatic plants, the scent of the granary masked the smell of food from pests. Get your weave on as we celebrate and practice the heritage of the region's many indigenous peoples with our introduction to traditional storage basket making.
Saturday, March 9, 2024
10:00AM-4:00PM
This event is FREE to all visitors of IVDM, no reservations required.
Ewaas
The Kumeyaay were masters of the desert and lived in dome shaped homes called ewaas. ewaas.The base was made out of willow branches and covered with leaves from different plants to protect them from the sun and rain. We will create small models of these traditional homes.
Saturday, April 6, 2024
10:00AM-4:00PM
This event is FREE to all visitors of IVDM, no reservations required.
Acorns!
Acorns were, and still are, a significant food in the Kumeyaay diet. The Kumeyaay would travel to the mountains to gather acorns together in late October and early November. We will celebrate this staple item by making acorn power bars!
Saturday, May 11, 2024
10:00AM-4:00PM
This event is FREE to all visitors of IVDM, no reservations required.