Schuylkill Powwow Fest
September 12, 2026
12 Noon to 4 PM
at the
Schuylkill County Historical Society
305 N Centre St, Pottsville, PA 17901
What is the Powwow Fest?
Powwow is a Christian system of faith healing and folk magic, native to Pennsylvania, and descended from German folk magic traditions. Join us at the Schuylkill County Historical Society for a celebration of this fascinating practice. The Schuylkill Powwow Fest will feature speakers on the practice and folklore of Powwow, as well as discussion with the audience about your experiences.
The Team
Robert Phoenix is a traditional Pennsylvania German Powwower and has been working to keep the tradition alive through classes and published works for over twenty years. He has a website www.PAGermanPowwow.com where he shares the information he's collected since 2008. His youtube channel The Powwow Guy has well over 500 videos chronicling his life as a Powwower. In 2015, he was featured in the documentary Hex Hollow: Witchcraft and Murder in Pennsylvania, which told the story of Powwower Nelson Rehmeyer's murder in the late 1920's in Southcentral Pennsylvania. His group, Phoenix Line, is a group of traditional Powwowers who are working to keep the healing secrets of the Pennsylvania Dutch alive and well. Robert is the author of The Powwow Grimoire, 2014, The Powwow Book of Divination, 2020, and The Pennsylvania German Household Friend, 2025. He lives in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, with his family.
A native of Pottsville, Richard Bigg has decades of experience in paranormal research and investigation. He's compiled local tales of folklore and paranormal encounters into the book series, Strange Stories From the Skulking Stream. The second volume, Magic in the Mountains, tells the folklore of Powwow practitioners from the Schuylkill River region. More information at: richardbigg.com
Jeremy Alan Crites is a Virginia-based Powwower, church Deacon, and researcher with deep interests in Christian leadership and historical healing traditions. He balances family and professional work with active service in the church and ongoing studies of church liturgy, folklore, and biblical/spiritual history.
Schedule
September 12, 2026
12 Noon to 4 PM12:30 to 1:15- Rich Bigg presents Powwow tales from Schuylkill County's history and folklore.1:45 to 2:30pm- Robert Phoenix presents "Powwowing in Modern Times" featuring a discussion of the history and current practice of Powwow, and it's relevance to this day and age. Rob will also demonstrate the practice of Powwow.3:00 to 3:45pm- Jeremy Crites will discuss the Christianity of Pennsylvania German Powwow and how the spiritual life of a Christian is enhanced by embracing this healing tradition.
Contact Us
Schuylkill County Historical Society (570) 622-7540.
Rich Bigg's email if you have questions for the presenters.