Happy Independence Day! The Folklife Festival celebrated the diverse voices, traditions, and art of the United States today—as we do every day.

Where are you from? Where are you going? Why do you do what you do? These probably sound like simple questions, but they are at the core of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

The first weekend of the Folklife Festival came to a close today, welcoming members of the Caribbean community in Washington, D.C., to the On the Move program and a full house for each performance in the Circus Arts Big Top.

After a beautiful morning full of music, movement, and conversation, the afternoon’s events were cut short by a sudden downpour.

The 50th annual Folklife Festival continues to grow, as more participants arrive in Washington, D.C., and as artwork emerges in our venues.

Happy 50th birthday to the Folklife Festival! Our jubilee anniversary kicked off this morning with an Opening Ceremony in the Big Top

Traditional culture permeates our lives. It includes things like what we eat for breakfast, how we greet our family, and how close or far we stand from other people when we encounter them in public places.

When I arrived to Catalonia in 2012, the two things that struck me most were Catalan nationalism and human towers called castells.

When people play sports at the frontoia, the community comes together. As the center of cultural life in the Basque country, the frontoia (pilota handball court) is a place not only to watch games but to participate.

The 2016 Folklife Festival ended today with whip cracks, a mass dance to accordion melodies, and last-minute lemonade and taco runs.