Each year we ask, how do we better engage you, the visitor, in the creation, production, and presentation of our programs? Since its inception, the Festival has been a unique dance between participants, curators, and visitors.

En el corazón agrícola del valle de San Joaquín de California, que se extiende 250 millas de Stockton en el norte a Bakersfield en el sur, dos grupos de artistas mantienen las tradiciones de sus comunidades mixtecas.

In the nineteenth century, American pioneers pushed through the boundaries of the nascent nation to undeveloped western lands, following their dreams of economic opportunity, self-determination, and prosperity.

Happy World Circus Day! This year’s theme is collaboration and cooperation for the future of circus, making today an ideal opportunity to announce our Circus Arts program at the 2017 Folklife Festival.

There I was, standing in front of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival main stage, with a circling sway of skirts and handkerchiefs. I was speechless. It was my second day in Washington, D.C., but for a fleeting instant I felt at home.

After the Opening Ceremony of the 2015 Folklife Festival, 100 Cajoneros—an ensemble of Peruvians living in the United States—welcomed the Perú: Pachamama program to the National Mall.

A mototaxi is a small vehicle with three wheels that uses a small, loud motorcycle motor, generally serving as a means of public transportation. The mototaxi, also known as motocar or moto, is prominent all over Peru

Dancing in the park is a fairly new phenomenon, and its development is related to other things such as urbanization across the country and changing demographics and family structure in China.

By the 1950s, there were around 4,300 Chinese restaurants in the United States. Currently there are around 50,000—outnumbering U.S. McDonald’s, Burger Kings, and Pizza Huts combined.

According to the 2010 Census, there are over four million people of Chinese ancestry in the United States. For those from diaspora communities such as myself, Chinatowns have functioned as places of security