Choctaw entertainers and more to join headliners for Labor Day Festival

TVSHKA HOMMA – Two Choctaw entertainment acts and another Christian music group have been added to the 2026 concert lineup at the Choctaw Labor Day Festival, on the capitol grounds at Tvshka Homma.

On Saturday, Sept. 5 in the Amphitheater, opening for platinumselling country artists Mark Chesnutt and Neal McCoy will be Choctaw country musician Vernon Johnson at 6 p.m., and Choctaw musical act The Close at 6:45 p.m.

On Sunday, Sept. 6 in the Amphitheater, opening the Christian music concert featuring Dove Awardnominee Ben Fuller and gold record artist Hope Darst, will be The Williamsons. The vocal group will go on at 6 p.m.

Stay up to date on festival activities at laborday.choctawnation.com or text “LABORDAY” to 888777.

About the Entertainers

Vernon Johnson is a country artist from Dog Creek, Okla., where he was raised on a working ranch. He began writing songs at age 3, influenced by the sounds that helped shape his signature style of traditional country music. At 16, he became a member of the Country Music Singers Association, winning national titles for Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year for three consecutive years through the North American Country Music Association International.

The Close is a Nashville-based trio that delivers close-harmony in indie-contemporary music. The vocal ensemble – Shannon Walker, Lori J. Rowton, and James McKinney – has shared the stage with legends like Diamond Rio and has proven to be a fan favorite wherever they go. Theirs is a sound found at the intersection of vintage Americana and modern sophistication.

The Williamsons have solidified themselves as one of the most popular groups in Southern Gospel Music, winning awards and garnering numerous hits, including the No. 1 songs “Shout” and “Every Moment, Every Mountain, Every Mile.” They began singing together as a group in 1969, later reorganized, and became known as The Williamsons in 2008. Today the group is led by original member Donnie Williamson and his wife Lisa. The Williamsons have made mission trips around the world and across the United States.

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