Festival Blog

Legendary trombone player Fred Wesley talks about his beginnings as a musician. Fred Wesley and The New JBs perform every day from July 7 through July 11, with a special evening concert on the Motor City

Fred Wesley and The New JBs perform every day from July 7 through July 11, with a special evening concert on the Motor City Stage on July 7, 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Did you know that before The Jones Girls were busting out soulful ballads and disco dance hits they sang backup for Diana Ross?

Food consumption and preparation is universal to the human experience, and foodways provide an excellent window into many cultures

Located adjacent to the Freer Gallery of Art, this year’s Marketplace features crafts, jewelry, textiles, and recordings related to the Colombia, Rhythm and Blues, and Peace Corps programs.

Come celebrate R&B music with Martha Reeves and a special performance of some of her most memorable hits at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival on July 1!

The Colombia program on the National Mall will include a feature on gold panning from Andagoya, a village in west central Colombia, where gold is panned from the San Juan River.

Did you know that Jerry "Swamp Dogg" Williams is not only a celebratedsongwriter, producer, singer, musician, and performer but also the author of his own cookbook?

Our friend Carlos Alberto Beltrán R. won’t be coming to the Festival, but his tradition will.