Imagine Studios partners with local city leaders, nonprofits, Indigenous and non-Native organizations, businesses and community members, to celebrate Newburyport's 6th annual Indigenous People's Day, October, 10-11, 2026 at Newburyport’s Waterfront Park. This creative arts celebration enhances our city's waterfront park community activities and reputation as an awesome place to live as well as a cultural tourism destination.

This free family friendly cultural event is growing and this year includes two days. It includes an opening ceremony with intertribal representatives, city and state officials and community members. The event highlights Indigenous artists, musicians, drummers, singers, dancers, and hands on participatory programs, performances and activities.

This event also aims to increase awareness and appreciation of our city's Indigenous Peoples Day holiday, as well as the history, heritage and continuing cultural presence of Native peoples in what is today Newburyport.

A key milestone of this event is the second annual launch of a traditional mishoon (dugout canoe) made last year at Newburyport’s Custom House Museum along the Merrimack River waterfront clipper heritage trail, by Wampanoag master boat makers. This paddle also includes a hand crafted birch bark canoe made by Indigenous artisans. This public boat paddle brings increased attention to the Merrimack River as our city's critical natural landscape and cultural heritage resource past and present.

The event welcomes all ages from Newburyport and beyond. Local students volunteer and participate in community service opportunities. Project partners include Newburyport Human Rights Commission, Community Media Hub, Custom House Maritime Museum, Merrohawke Nature School, Alliance of Climate and Environmental Stewards, Lowell's Boat Shop, YWCA, Trustees of Reservations, Newburyport Art Association, MA Center for Native American Awareness, Ohketeau Cultural Center, Cultural Survival and others.