Volunteers are critical to the success of the Festival and work closely with the Festival staff and participants. Volunteers contribute to a variety of duties, which include conducting surveys, assisting stage managers, audiovisual documentation of performances, and general administrative and production support. These are just a few of the opportunities available. Year after year, volunteers return to the Festival because it offers great fun, great people, and lots to learn.
In 2024, the Festival will take place June 26–July 1. The Smithsonian’s volunteer system, called Vsys, is now open for Festival sign-ups.
If you are a new volunteer:
- Go to the vol.si.edu.
- Click on Find New Opportunities in the upper right corner.
- In the Keywords field, enter “festival” and click Search.
- Scroll down to see all available volunteer positions. Click More to see full descriptions.
- When you find a position you want, click Sign Up.
- Fill in your new user details to create an account and apply. When finished, click Submit.
If you have volunteered with us in the past:
- Go to the vol.si.edu.
- Type in your user ID (email address) and password to sign in.
- Hover over the Find Opportunities tab and select New Opportunities.
- In the Keywords field, enter “festival” and click Search.
- Scroll down to see all available volunteer positions. Click More to see full descriptions.
- When you find a position you want, click Sign Up.
- Update your personal information and click Submit.
If you have questions about signing up, shifts, or tasks, contact volunteer coordinator Charish Bishop at BishopC2@si.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long are volunteer shifts?
Morning and afternoon shifts are four hours. Evening shifts are shorter, depending on the concert schedule.
Do I have to sign up for a certain amount of shifts?
You can sign up for a single shift or every shift! There is no minimum or maximum. Every volunteer gets a free Festival T-shirt and an ice cream voucher. Volunteers who do two shifts per day also get a meal voucher.
There is no age requirement, but those under eighteen years of age must bring a signed guardian permission form that we will provide. Those under sixteen must also be accompanied by an adult (guardian, older sibling, troop leader, etc.), who are welcome but not required to also volunteer.
Can I earn community service or student service learning hours?
Yes! Just bring the forms provided by your school or employer when you check in for your shift.
Want to stay in touch and be sure you know about volunteer opportunities in the future? Sign up for the mailing list below.
