2008 Smithsonian Folklife Festival Dates and Hours
June 25-29 and July 2-6, 2008. Open daily 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Evening events begin at 6 p.m. During the Festival, you may call (202) 633-7484 to hear a recorded description of daily events.Location
National Mall, between 7th and 14th Streets in Washington, DC. Parking around the Mall is extremely limited, so the best way to get to the festival is by Metro. The closest stations are Smithsonian, Federal Triangle and National Archives.Visiting Tips
- This event is held during the warmest time of year in Washington, DC. Plan ahead, dress appropriately and drink lots of water. Give yourself time to visit the Smithsonian Museums to cool off.
- Eat lunch or dinner at the festival. The food is great and reflects the themes of the festival. If children are picky, you can easily find a hotdog from a street vendor.
- Seek hands-on activities to keep children involved.
2008 Program
A Celebration of Texas Music, Food and Wine will feature demonstrations, performances and famous Texas talk about the Lone Star state's history and contemporary traditions. Focusing on the great heritage of music and food from every region of the state, the program will present Texas' rich natural resources, thriving cosmopolitan cities and engaging rural landscapes. Visitors will hear presentations of Texas blues, swing, conjunto, country and western, gospel and tejano music; see winemaking demonstrations; and enjoy diverse culinary traditions, including barbeque, kolache making, pan de campo contests and the production of artisan Texas cheeses.Bhutan: Land of the Thunder Dragon will bring Bhutanese artists, dancers, craftspeople, cooks, carpenters, farmers, representatives of monastic life and others to the National Mall to celebrate the living traditions that define and sustain Bhutan's culture. Artisans will introduce Bhutan's 13 traditional arts, known as zorig chusum, and explain how these living artistic traditions link the Bhutanese people to the land. Weavers will showcase the diversity of complex weaving traditions that have made Bhutanese textiles some of the most coveted in the world today. Sculptors, painters and carvers will demonstrate the skilled arts that continue to adorn monasteries and temples, as well as most Bhutanese homes. Monastic dancers will perform for the first time in Washington ritual masked dances from highly choreographed and symbolic sacred festivals.
NASA: 50 Years and Beyond will present the role that the men and women of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration have played in broadening the horizons of science and culture, as well as the role that they will continue to play in helping to shape the future and inspiring the public through their exploration missions. The agency, established in 1958 to lead research in aeronautics and space flight, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. The program will include demonstrations, live presentations, hands-on educational activities, narrative "oral history" sessions and exhibits that explore the spirit of innovation, inspiration and discovery embodied by the agency's personnel.
Photos of the Smithsonian Folklife Festivals
2007 Festival - Themes: Mekong River: Connecting Cultures, Northern Ireland at the Smithsonian, and the Roots of Virginia Culture.2006 Festival - Themes: Alberta at the Smithsonian, Carriers of Culture: Living Native Basket Traditions, and Nuestra Música 2006: Latino Chicago.
See Previous years
Official Web Site
www.folklife.si.eduIf you are planning to be in town for the 4th of July, read about Fourth of July Fireworks and Celebrations in the Washington, DC area.
