After a night of thunderstorms, the Folklife Festival’s first full day of programming ran as a soft opening on the National Mall with activities for all who wandered through. The Opening Ceremony welcomed visitors and participants with speeches from our directors and partners and powerful performances. (If you missed it, you can watch the recording online.)

Visitors of all ages enjoyed traditional cooking demonstrations by chefs from the United Arab Emirates at Festival Foodways, learned about oysters and fabrics at the Earth Optimism × Folklife tents, and even met falcons—all with a little bit of rain! The day closed with a lively performance from NOON and Experience Unlimited at the Ralph Rinzler Stage as the sun set on D.C.

Join us on Day 3 for a full day of exciting events and (finally!) great weather. Attend a falconry demonstration, learn about ginseng conservation, and participate in a musical workshop with NOON. Looking for some food inspiration? Visit Festival Foodways to learn about the food of Fiji and planet-conscious burgers with celebrity chef Spike Mendelsohn. Stop by the Folklife Studio during the day to learn about UAE architecture, how sustainable finance can promote climate solutions, and creative storytelling in science education.

Round out your day with a screening of My Garden of a Thousand Bees at 6 p.m., followed by a musical performance by Alice Gerrard at 7 p.m., both at the Ralph Rinzler Main Stage!

Annabella Hoge is the 2022 Folklife Festival media intern, and Elisa Hough is the editor at the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. Together they are Team Top Ten.