Smithsonian Folklife Festival
Upcoming Events (11)
Smithsonian Folklife Festival: Tibetan Culture Beyond the Land of Snows
The Smithsonian Folklife Festival spotlights Tibetan culture beyond the land of snows, with performances, demonstrations, and exhibitions that reveal daily life, arts, and traditions. This outdoor, family-friendly program at the Smithsonian site invites visitors to explore Tibetan heritage within a global festival setting.
Roots of Virginia Culture: The Past is Present
Explore Virginia’s cultural roots at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival’s Roots of Virginia Culture: The Past is Present. This outdoor festival on the National Mall features live performances, crafts, and storytelling that bring history to life for visitors of all ages.
Old Ways in the New World (1976) – Smithsonian Folklife Festival
A retrospective segment of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival revisiting the 1976 program 'Old Ways in the New World.' This outdoor showcase highlights traditional arts, music, and crafts from across the Americas, presented on the Smithsonian stage to spark cross-cultural understanding.
Smithsonian Folklife Festival: Land in Native American Cultures
Explore Native American perspectives on land through performances, storytelling, and craft demonstrations at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. This cultural showcase spotlights Indigenous arts and daily life on the National Mall, offering live music, demonstrations, and interactive exhibits in a free, family-friendly setting.
Smithsonian Folklife Festival: African Diaspora Street Culture
Experience the Smithsonian Folklife Festival's African Diaspora Street Culture, a free outdoor showcase on the National Mall featuring street traditions from the African diaspora, live performances, crafts, and cultural demonstrations. A family-friendly celebration of music, dance, storytelling, and community across the Smithsonian festival grounds.
Creativity and Resistance: Maroon Culture in the Americas
A Smithsonian Folklife Festival feature exploring Maroon communities across the Americas, showing how creativity acts as resistance and cultural identity. The program highlights histories, performances, and crafts that shaped diaspora networks, with scholars sharing insights and live demonstrations.
Smithsonian Folklife Festival: National Heritage Fellows Program
A section of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival highlighting the National Heritage Fellows Program, presenting master folk artists as part of a year-round celebration of American heritage. An outdoor, family-friendly cultural festival on the Smithsonian grounds in Washington, D.C., with performances and demonstrations by leading folk-art practitioners. Free admission.
Smithsonian Folklife Festival: Carriers of Culture: Living Native Basket Traditions
Smithsonian Folklife Festival presents Carriers of Culture: Living Native Basket Traditions, a celebration of Indigenous weaving. Master artisans demonstrate traditional techniques, share stories behind each design, and illuminate the cultural significance of baskets in a vibrant, outdoor festival setting on the National Mall.
Smithsonian Folklife Festival: Forest Service, Culture, and Community
The Smithsonian Folklife Festival session explores Forest Service culture and community with live demonstrations, exhibits, and programs on heritage, stewardship, and local traditions. This outdoor, family-friendly event on the National Mall offers insights into cultural practices, storytelling, and community collaboration celebrating America's public lands.
Smithsonian Folklife Festival: Arts Endowment Folk Arts Program
Experience the Arts Endowment Folk Arts Program as part of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. The program features traditional crafts, live demonstrations, and performances by folk artists from diverse communities, celebrating living cultural heritage at the Smithsonian's iconic festival setting.
Black Urban Expressive Culture from Philadelphia
Delve into Black urban expressive culture from Philadelphia at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. This outdoor, culturally rich program on the National Mall offers live performances, demonstrations, and stories that celebrate Philadelphia’s Black communities, weaving music, dance, and heritage into a unique Smithsonian experience.