
Examine the intertwining of American religious communities and traditions and the imaginative encounters this mingling produces.
Explore this unique region—encompassing parts of Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Illinois—and the communities who call it home.
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.
From 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.
Throughout 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.
In 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.