A Washington summer tradition, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival brings a variety of cultures to the National Mall through exhibits, interactive demonstrations, roundtable discussions, food, song and dance. This year, the festival explores the country of Oman, Latino music, the U.S. Forest Service and American food culture. Programs and activities change daily, so look through the daily schedules before heading down to the Mall.
Select a festival program below for more information.
Food For Thought
Chef Alice Waters is on a mission to change eating habits by teaching kids to tend an Edible Schoolyard like the one re-created on the Mall.
Oman! Oh Camel! Oh Boy!
At the Folklife Festival, camel herders from Oman talk business with camel ranchers from Texas while visitors listen to folk music and sample Latino cuisine. No wonder one regular visitor calls it "a microcosm of the international community."
More News
A Festival You'll Want To Taste (Post, June 17)
Oman's Swords Of the Dance (Post, June 23)
Multimedia
Video: Celebrating A Diversity of Food, Culture and MusicMP3: Nuestra Musica
Navigating the Festival
Print this festival map and bring it with you to navigate the festival grounds.
Visiting with children? The Smithsonian has prepared a printable guide full of games, recipes and fun.
- Family Activity Guide (pdf)
Live Online
Richard Kurin, director of the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage at the Smithsonian, took reader questions about the Folklife Festival on Tuesday, June 28.
Highlights of festival events. For full list, select program name.
Thursday, June 30
- Highlight: 1 p.m. / Chef Emeril Lagasse, Beyond the Melting Pot
- Today's Events: Oman | Forest Service | Food Culture USA
Friday, July 1
- Highlight: 5 p.m. / Ralph Rinzler Memorial Concert: Christian Songs in Native Languages, Sounds of the Forest Stage
- Today's Events: Oman | Forest Service | Food Culture USA
Saturday, July 2
- Highlight: 5:30 p.m. / Nuestra Musica: Community in New York and Washington, Sounds of the Forest Stage
- Today's Events: Oman | Forest Service | Nuestra Musica | Food Culture USA
Sunday, July 3
- Highlight: 1 p.m. / Chef Paul Prudhomme, the Garden Kitchen
- Today's Events: Oman | Forest Service | Nuestra Musica | Food Culture USA
Monday, July 4
- Highlight: 5 p.m. / Hootenanny, Sounds of the Forest Stage
- Today's Events: Oman | Forest Service | Food Culture USA
