See highlights from the Folklife Festival captured by our photography team. Join us on the National Mall to see the action for yourself, and add your own photos to our Festival Flickr group !
Richard Kurin (under secretary of History, Art, and Culture at the Smithsonian), Robert Vogel (superintendent of National Mall and Memorial Parks at the National Park Service), and Sabrina Motley (director of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival) prepare to sign a memorandum of understanding that ensures the Festival's future on the National Mall.
Photo by Rachel Winslow, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution
The Zhejiang Wu Opera Troupe lead the procession of the morning's opening ceremony.
Photo by Heather Caverhill, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution
The Ramogi Dancers of Homa Bay County conclude the opening ceremony.
Photo by Kate Mankowski, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution
Singers from the Kenya program got visitors up out of their seats during the opening ceremony.
Photo by Rachel Winslow, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution
Hong Kong artist Danny Yung's Tian Tian statue prior to head attachment.
Photo by Heather Caverhill, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution
The Zhejiang Wu Opera Troupe's dragon-lions come to life.
Photo by Josh Weilepp, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution
A Kenyan storytelling session in the Karibuni workshops circle.
Photo by Heather Caverhill, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution
A foodways demonstration in China's Five Spice Kitchen.
Photo by Joe Furgal, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution
Pan Yuzhen demonstrates Miao embroidery.
Photo by Rachel Winslow, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution
A visitor receives a henna tattoo in Kenya's Adornment Arts tent.
Photo by Hermine Dreyfuss, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution