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  • Armenia
    Armenia

    Explore Armenian culture—its influences, contributions, and exchange with diaspora communities throughout the United States. Enjoy food, craft, and dance demonstrations that show how traditional practices create home, both in concept and in form.

  • Catalonia
    Catalonia

    See how Catalan people channel their creativity to ensure the vitality of their local cultures and livelihoods. Help build a human tower, hear contemporary music rooted in tradition, and experience the communal vida a la plaça—life in the plaza.

  • Sisterfire Concert
    Sisterfire Concert

    On July 8, we celebrate women artists with an evening concert revival of the Sisterfire music festivals that took place in D.C. from 1982 to 1988. Daytime presentations will include poetry, spoken word, and reflections from activists on the fortieth anniversary of Roadwork.

Festival 101

  • The Smithsonian Folklife Festival, established in 1967, honors contemporary living cultural traditions and celebrates those who practice and sustain them. Produced annually by the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, the Festival has featured participants from all 50 states and more than 100 countries.

    Our free Festival takes place for two weeks every summer, overlapping the Fourth of July holiday. It is an educational, research-based presentation that features master artisans and other tradition bearers. We invite visitors to sing and dance along, try craft and game workshops, learn traditional recipes, ask questions, and take part in this unique cultural exchange.

Festival Video

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