The Holland Center will host the 3rd Annual Scottsdale Navajo Rug & Jewelry Show & Sale from Feb. 21-23, showcasing 300 handwoven Navajo rugs, jewelry, and crafts. The event, which benefits the Adopt-A-Native-Elder Program, offers a unique opportunity to support Navajo weavers while learning about Native culture.
The weekend event will kick off with a VIP preview on Friday, February 21, from 5 to 8 p.m. Guests at the preview will enjoy early access to the show, which includes the chance to purchase handmade items, attend weaving demonstrations, and hear from weavers about their craft. Tickets for the VIP event are $50 and include a raffle ticket for a chance to win a handwoven rug.
The public portion of the show will take place on Saturday, Feb. 22, and Sunday, Feb. 23, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. The show will feature work from 70 Navajo weavers, with each artist setting their own prices and receiving 100% of the proceeds from their sales.
This year’s featured weaver is Rena Robertson, who learned weaving from her mother at a young age. Robertson, who spins her own yarn and uses natural dyes, has been weaving for over 30 years. She and her family, including her husband and five children, continue to preserve the Navajo weaving tradition. “Weaving is our legacy and personal identity as Dine’,” Robertson said. “I am grateful Adopt-A-Native-Elder helps us keep our traditions alive.”
The Holland Center’s partnership with the Adopt-A-Native-Elder Program has grown since the event's inception in 2023, drawing over 1,700 attendees last year. The organization helps alleviate poverty and hardship for Navajo elders living on reservations in Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico by providing food, medical supplies, firewood, and other essential services.
For more information about the event or the Adopt-A-Native-Elder Program, visit hollandcenter.org or anelder.org.
