• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 1 / 10
  Sisters Sahkanush and Haykanush Stepanyan have been hard at work in the Carpet tent each day. Together they are representing Tufenkian Artisanal Carpets, a private company that invests in the production and sales of Armenian handmade carpets.
  Photo by Sonya Pencheva, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives
• 2 / 10
  Armenian winemaker Vahe Keushguerian (left) and Catalan fishermen Ramón and Félix Boquera shared the Hatsatoun kitchen in the morning to cook their respective versions of mackerel dishes. They celebrated at the end with a pour for a traditional Catalan wine pitcher.
  Photo by Kathryn Mitchell, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives
• 3 / 10
  By the afternoon, the Federació Catalana d’Entitats Catifaires and Los Viajeros de las Americas had outlines set for their collaborate flower/sawdust carpet.
  Photo by Daniel Martinez Gonzalez, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives
• 4 / 10
  Soumana Saley led a children’s workshop on making leather magnets. More Crafts of African Fashion activities take place each day in the Festival Marketplace.
  Photo by Daniel Martinez Gonzalez, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives
• 5 / 10
  Before donning his black and red costume, Joanjo Romero from Diables d’Igualada showed off his menacing metal torch to visitors. See it lit up Saturday night after the evening concert!
  Photo by Daniel Martinez Gonzalez, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives
• 6 / 10
  Ivan Caro (crouching, with the gralla reed instrument) and Pilar Planavila (on accordion) brought the Catalonia Dance Workshop to life with music and drance from the Pyrenees.
  Photo by Daniel Martinez Gonzalez, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives
• 7 / 10
  Armenian potter Vahagn Hambarzumyan is used to working with kids—he has been teaching his own children the art of ceramics back home in Sisian, Syunik Province.
  Photo by Gregory Gottlieb, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives
• 8 / 10
  Primarily a painter, Gayane Manucharyan represents a relatively small population of women stone carvers in Armenia. Find her working in Armenia’s Stone tent.
  Photo by Gregory Gottlieb, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives
• 9 / 10
  Catalan ceramicist Pep Madrenas has also been sharing his skills with young visitors, but he has been quite productive on his own in the Ceramics & Glassworks tent.
  Photo by Mark Roth, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives
• 10 / 10
  In his own Armenian Script tent, calligrapher Ruben Malayan has been demonstrating his art form and teaching techniques in master classes for visitors.
  Photo by Sonya Pencheva, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives

Click on the photo above to view full slideshow

Despite the heat, the Folklife Festival continued today with just as many feats of talent and cultural displays. The Federació Catalana d’Entitats Catifaires, the Catalan catifa (flower carpet) makers, began a collaboration with Los Viajeros de las Americas, a group in D.C. with Central American roots that practices a similar tradition, called alfombra de aserrín (sawdust carpet). Together they are creating a large flower carpet featuring Modernist images in the center of the National Mall throughout the weekend.

Here you can check out our favorite pictures from the day. Add your own to our Flickr group, and make sure to use #2018Folklife when sharing your photos on social media.

Tomorrow, learn the techniques of frrik, a traditional Armenian spinning top toy, revived by a group of artists in Gyumri. Discuss the possibilities that tourism holds for Armenia’s future as well as the ways tourism initiatives differ from one another. Participants of all ages can try their hand at carving in a class led my Armenian wood and stone carvers.

Explore the world of Wakanda and African traditions that inspired the stunning costumes of Black Panther at a special talk held at the National Museum of African Art, part of the Crafts of African Fashion program. Sample different wines in our Marketplace before getting ready for performances from Les Anxovetes, Zulal, and Alidé Sans to hear women’s voices form across cultures. 

Rachel Barton is the media intern for the 2018 Smithsonian Folklife Festival.