The grand opening of the new cafeteria on the Choctaw Nation Capitol Grounds kicked off the five-day Labor Day Festival held each year at Tushka Homma.

The 12,000-square-foot facility opened its doors to early festival-goers with a free meal and a chance to check out the beautiful interior.

Hundreds attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony in spite of the rainy skies which have only brought much-welcome cooler weather for the weekend.

Seating for 400 in the new cafeteria is comfortably placed among majestic columns trimmed with rock matching the Capitol Building.

The red brick and red roof of the exterior also complement the exterior of the historic Capitol.

The well-equipped kitchen and larger serving area will make it much easier to feed the thousands who will visit the cafeteria during Labor Day weekend.

The cafeteria is also used for special occasions such as Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings of Choctaw who live here, in the heart of the Choctaw Nation.

The festival continued through Monday with free concerts, arts and crafts, art show, cultural demonstrations, information booths, playground activities, specialty acts, sports tournaments, a great variety of food and free carnival rides for the kids.

The Choctaw Nation Princess Pageant was held Thursday night during the tribe’s annual Labor Day Festival.

Co-hosts of the event were the husband-wife team of Phillip and State Rep. Lisa Billy.

All contestants took the stage, greeting the audience, with judges critiquing their poise and dress. Junior Miss and Senior Miss contestants displayed their abilities to sing Choctaw hymns, play the flute, write poetry or sign-language interpretation during a talent competition.

Juanita Gonzalez of District 5 won the Little Miss category, with Adrianna Curnutt of District 4 first runner-up and Summer Moffitt of District 8 second runner-up.

Stephanie Tehauno of District 2 was chosen as Jr. Miss Choctaw Nation; first runner-up was Rebeckah Boykin of District 8; second runner-up was Rachel Hogan of District 5; and Ashton Rachelle Dinardo Chuckluck of District 11 was crowned Miss Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

First runner-up was Sara Leandra Morgan of District 12, and second runner-up was Andrea Ford of District 4.