Thanks to warm weather, over a hundred talented artisans and performers, and all our sponsors, we enjoyed another beautiful day of the Folklife Festival on the National Mall. From building boats to building beats, from marching bands to Latin jazz, there is truly something for everyone.
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The Basque Dancers of the Great Basin from Elko, Nevada, have packed the Musika eta Dantza Etxea each day with their festive routines and bright costumes. Photo by Caroline Angelo, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives
Raymond Martinez, here with the Kumeyaay community, enjoyed the performance by Bambu and DJ Phatrick in the “Filipino American Soundscapes” performance. Photo by Jason Smith, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives
César Alcoz may have the hottest job at the Folklife Festival, working all day over a furnace and with a torch, demonstrating burdinola (ironworking). Photo by Caroline Angelo, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives
Youth Speaks, a spoken-word program based in San Francisco, hosted a session in the Sounds of California Stage & Plaza. Antique capped it off with her warrior call. Photo by SarahVictoria Rosemann, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives
Maria Elena Garate Astralaga is a saregilea (net mender), with the skills to stitch and knit yards and yards of fishing net. Photo by Hank Douglas, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives
The chefs at Ostatua Kitchen prepared a “From the Forest” dish of porcini mushrooms and snails. Photo by Caroline Angelo, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives
Generations of the Rodriguez family are here to represent the Kumeyaay community outside of San Diego and in Baja California with songs, stories, and games. Photo by Josh Weilepp, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives
The Kern County Basque Club Klika trumpeted across the Festival grounds, carrying on the Basque drum and bugle corps tradition. Photo by Caroline Angelo, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives
John Santos and Bobi Céspedes closed out the night on the Ralph Rinzler Concert Stage with a mix of North, South, Central, and Caribbean American jazz. Photo by Josh Weilepp, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives
A sprawling crowd filled up our portion of the National Mall, despite the day’s heat. Photo by Josh Weilepp, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives
The final show on the Ralph Rinzler Concert Stage begins early at 4:15 p.m., featuring Basque band Korrontzi, Armenian youth group TmbaTa, and Filipino American multi-instrumentalist Low Leaf. We’ll see you there!
Elisa Hough is the editor for the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.
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