Overview Blog

Here are photos taken from 10am-1pm on Opening Day at the Folklife Festival!

This Festival introduction is presented in American Sign Language (ASL) and captions. It explains the various means through which theRead More

Get a temporary tattoo, and redeem for a free CD (with purchase)! Smithsonian Folklife Festival staff will be handing outRead More

Walk down the National Mall today, and you will see about 65 white tents, and within them, you will hearRead More

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

Located adjacent to the Freer Gallery of Art, this year’s Marketplace features crafts, jewelry, textiles, and recordings related to theRead More

Smithsonian Folkways director Daniel Sheehy challenges you to the Folklife edition of “Are You Smarter Than a Curator?” quiz! ThisRead More

Each year the Smithsonian Folklife Festival holds a special evening concert to honor both its co-founder Ralph Rinzler (1934-1994) andRead More

Smithsonian staff photographers Hugh Talman, Richard Strauss, Jeff Tinsley and Harold Dorwin reflect on their experience documenting the Smithsonian FolklifeRead More

The Smithsonian Folklife Festival is often described as the “world’s largest cultural conversation,” and as a “museum without walls.” FirstRead More