Some are combined with other events, such as rodeos, demonstrations, competitions and games. It is not even unusual for a powwow to have rides and a traveling carnival alongside it. The types of dances that may be seen at a powwow are the southern straight dance, fancy and traditional dances, and gourd dancing, where the dancer shakes a dried gourd as a rattle. Native American instruments are often of great interest to the new viewer. They consist of beautifully carved drums, rattles and small flutes.
Drums are the center of a ceremony, and the beat to which the dancers turn and move.
Drums are made specially for powwows, and most used in a ceremony are very old and valuable. Instruments are drums are considered to talk to the spirits, so under no circumstances should these be harmed or touched. Native American singing ranges from the very low and guttural to a high, thin wail that seems to whine through octaves. In terms of dress, there will be many animal skins, beads, feathers, fans, and staffs used in the ceremony and dance. One very interesting phenomenon of powwows is trading.