Smithsonian Folklife Festival

Every summer since 1967 the Smithsonian Institution has held the outdoor Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall in Washington, DC. It's a great way to experience a wide variety of world cultures and traditions. There is one theme country each year (in 2008 it was Bhutan and in 2009 Wales) as well as a showcased American state or folk tradition.

One learns about the culture or tradition through demonstrations of arts and crafts, music performances, dance, and food and drink.

The Smithsonian does an excellent job of bringing practitioners to Washington and creating accurate displays. (Inside the Buddhist temple constructed in 2008, one could think oneself to be in Bhutan!)

Music and, of course, food, round out the experience.

The Folklife Festival take place over two weeks around the Fourth of July. If you visit Washington for the Fourth, don't miss the Festival!

See my Washington, DC, blog entries for July 2008 and July 2009 for visits to the Folklife Festival!