The Wise Pies Arena in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is getting ready for the 33rd annual Gathering of Nations. Photo from Facebook

Thousands of dancers, drummers and singers, along with tens of thousands of spectators, are getting ready for the 33rd annual Gathering of Nations.

The event kicks off in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Thursday evening and runs through Saturday night. It's billed as the largest powwow and Native cultural exhibition in North America.

In addition to arts and crafts and Native foods, the weekend includes the popular Miss Indian World competition. Two dozen young women, representing American Indian and Alaska Native communities in the United States and First Nations in Canada, will showcase their cultural knowledge and talents as they vie to succeed Cheyenne Brady, the outgoing title holder.

"We just come together, socialize, visit with each other," Brady told KOB of the gathering. "People come from across the continent and across the world."

The winner will be crowned Saturday night as the powwow winds down.

Get the Story:
This annual cultural event that generates $20M for Albuquerque kicks off today (Albuquerque Business First 4/28)
Gathering of Nations begins Thursday (KOAT 4/27)
Wise Pies Arena set to host 33rd Gathering of Nations (KRQE 4/27)
Tens of thousands set to gather for nation’s largest powwow (AP 4/27)
Miss Indian World invites Rail Runner riders to Gathering of Nations (KOB 4/26)
Miss Indian World 2015 greets Rail Runner commuters (KRQE 4/26)
Bemidji man to announce at Gathering of Nations in New Mexico (The Bemidji Pioneer 4/26)
Kimberly DeJesus seeks 2016 Miss Indian World crown (The Lawton Constitution 4/25)
Miss Indian World works to instill pride in Native American heritage (The Albuquerque Journal 4/24)
Miss Indian World contestants promote native culture (The Toronto Star 4/23)
Gathering of Nations aims to spread emotional happiness (The Albuquerque Journal 4/22)
Miss Hualapai competes for Miss Indian World (The Arizona Daily Sun 4/22)
Kotzebue woman heads to national pageant (The Arctic Sounder 4/22)
Standing Rock woman to compete for Miss Indian World title (The Bismarck Tribune 4/21)
Local performer takes stage at world’s largest powwow (Iron County Today 4/21)
Oglala woman to compete in "Miss Indian World Pageant" :Along the Way (KEVN 4/13)
Two from Mescalero compete for Miss Indian World (The Ruidoso News 4/8)