Current Programs
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Creative Encounters:
Living Religions in the U.S.
Examine the intertwining of American religious communities and traditions and the imaginative encounters this mingling produces.
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The Ozarks:
Faces and Facets of a Region
Explore this unique region—encompassing parts of Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Illinois—and the communities who call it home.
Festival 101
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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 on the National Mall, 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.
Featured Video
Archived Events
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July 8, 2023Folksinger Willi Carlisle -
July 8, 2023The Healing Power of Stories -
July 8, 2023Gender and Community Leadership -
Past Programs
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1997 FestivalThe Mississippi DeltaFrom the flat, rich land of west Tennessee through parts of Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana, the region owes many of its cultural traditions to the Mississippi River and the many smaller rivers that permeate the area.
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2004 FestivalSacred Sounds: Belief & SocietyThroughout history, sacred sounds have served as a medium for human cultures to raise questions, advance beliefs, give praise, and inspire others to join in exploration of the mysteries of earthly existence and the universe.
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1979 FestivalMedicine ShowIn the early 1900s, traveling “medicine shows” were the only form of entertainment in many rural American communities and one of the most lucrative sources of employment for folk musicians.
Support the Folklife Festival, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, sustainability projects, educational outreach, and more.
