The Choktaw Indian Fair
Originally called the "New Corn Ceremony," the Choktaw Indian Fair is an annual fair, held the second week in July. The origins of this celebration date back to when the Choktaw tribe gathered in celebration of the ripening of the first corn.
It is a complete celebration of the rich Choctaw Indian traditions, including music, cuisine, artwork and sports. The present series of fairs date back to 1949. The event offers fun for the whole family, with a good amount of dancing and well-rounded entertainment.
Tombigbee National Forest
Located 30 miles north of Philadelphia, The Tombigbee National Forest comprises 66,576 acres of hardwood trees. There are two campgrounds within the forest, one located next to Choktaw Lake, and the other next to Davis Lake, both offering boat ramps and a fishing pier.
There are also numerous hiking and mountain bike trails, the longest being the Witch Dance Horse Trail that spans 15 miles. Horseback riding is available in some parts of the forest. The main attraction besides hiking and fishing in the forest is The Natchez Trace, originally a hunting trail that later became a post road for the expanding United States.
Okatibbee Lake
Created by the Okatibbee Dam, Okatibbee Lake is a property of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and is located 28 miles northwest of Philadelphia. Home to the endangered American alligator and the bald eagle, the lake is an 11,000-acre multi-purpose project.
About 6,900 acres of the project are land and flooded woodlands available for public hunting and wildlife viewing. The Corps of Engineers along with The Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, & Parks both plant mud flats with grain crops in order to promote the game and nongame bird and animal population.
Okatibbee Lake also provides boat ramps, picnic areas, beaches, a campground and areas designated for water sports. Fishing is also available, with a reported population of catfish, crappie, stripers and bass.
