Thanks to warm weather, over a hundred talented artisans and performers, and all our sponsors, we enjoyed another beautiful day of the Folklife Festival on the National Mall.

Kaixo! 今日は! Kamthum muvak! Ողջույն! ¡Hola! سلام! Hawka! That’s “hello” in Basque, Japanese, Quechan, Armenian, Spanish, Pashto, and Kumeyaay

It’s time for Week Two of the 2016 Folklife Festival! After the Fourth of July, we bid farewell to FandangObon, Klaperttaŕak, the Joaldunak, and several other Basque and Californian groups.

Happy Fourth of July! Before the rainy weather drove us inside the Arts and Industries Building, experts and artisans from California and Basque country shared their traditions and innovations with visitors on the National Mall.

This year at the Folklife Fest we celebrate the Basques,
Plus the sounds of California, in kimonos and in masks.
They’re telling stories, singing songs, and cooking fancy snacks,
And if you’re curious about them, all you have to do is ask!

A warm breezy day brought another round of cultural curiosities and explorations on the National Mall. It was our busiest day so far this year, with each tent—whether music, discussion, cheese making, or otherwise—continuously packed.

What’s a typical day at the Folklife Festival?

The Folklife Festival continued today with beautiful weather, energetic group dances, mouth-watering cooking demonstrations, and much more.

The 2016 Smithsonian Folklife Festival opened today with a tap on the tabla, as Salar Nader and Homayoun Sakhi kicked off the opening ceremony in the Arts and Industries Building.

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.