The Festival’s seventh day brought many important guests. The new Secretary of the Smithsonian , David Skorton, spent his second day on the job exploring the Perú: Pachamama program. Peruvian Ambassador Luis Miguel Castillo also joined Ed Avalos, the Undersecretary of Marketing at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, at the top of the Q’eswachaka Bridge. Latin Grammy winner Susana Baca brought an end to the night, performing with Afro-Peruvian group Tutuma on the Ralph Rinzler Concert Stage.
Join our Flickr poolto share your own photos of the Festival.
Marinera Viva!!! performed the mochera style, characterized by costumes inspired by the northern coastal town of Moche. Photo by Vivianne Peckham, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives
The engineers from Quehue completed the Q’eswachaka Bridge in the afternoon. Photo by Francisco Guerra, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives
Ed Avalos, the Undersecretary of Marketing at the USDA, helped a young visitor learn to ride a caballito de totora raft. Photo by J.B. Weilepp, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives
Brus Rubio began painting the mototaxi with a tropical scene. Photo by J.B. Weilepp, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives
Visitors helped Alejandrina Huillca Puma and Alejandrina Ayma de Mamani prepare ichu grass. Once softened, the grass will be braided into rope for the Q’eswachaka Bridge. Photo by Walter Larrimore, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives
Video intern Claudia Romano interviewed Timoteo Ccarita Sacaca about his work with the Centro de Textiles Tradicionales del Cusco. Photo by Sarah Bluestein, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives
Peruvian Ambassador Luis Miguel Castillo and Ed Avalos, the Undersecretary of Marketing at the USDA, visited the building site of the Q’eswachaka Bridge. Photo by Sarah Bluestein, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives
Hat weaver Margarita Guzmán explained her technique to visitors in the Marinera tent. Photo by Vivianne Peckham, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives
Sergio Pacheco Habeo demonstrated how Wachiperi archers hunt small game. Photo by Vivianne Peckham, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives
Urban artist Eliot Tupac continued work on the Libertad (“Freedom”) mural. Photo by Vivianne Peckham, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives
Friday at the Folklife Festival, see alpacas return to the National Mall for a spiritual ceremony, and hear Afro-Peruvian jazz percussionist Alex Acuña bring his inventive music style to the evening concert.
Georgia “Ellie” Dassler is a media intern at the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage and a student at the College of William & Mary, where she studies anthropology and teaching English to speakers of other languages.
Join our email list for the latest news from the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
Support the Folklife Festival, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, sustainability projects, educational outreach, and more.