For forty-eight years, the Smithsonian Institution has been fostering creativity and learning by sponsoring and presenting the free Smithsonian Folklife Festival which occurs annually on the National Mall in Washington D.C. This year, the festival occurred from June 25-29and starts again on July 2 through July 6.
The Smithsonian has long been a cultural beacon in the center of Washington, D.C., and the Folklife Festival accurately demonstrates the Institution’s commitment to maintaining and demonstrating cultural traditions through public exhibition. The theme this year is traditions and culture from Kenya and China and the nine festival arenas are filled to the brim with many activities to choose from. There are also exclusive invite-only events, such as an exhibition of Miao embroidery, which in its entirety can take up to five years.
The nine different arenas of the festival offer much variety to choose from. The festival is very family-friendly, with many games and activities offered, such as a Martial Arts “Wushu” lesson, the chance to race against Kenyan marathoners, drum and dance lessons, and a Chinese language lesson. The activities are sure to be educational as well as engaging.
The festival also offers dance and music exhibitions and evening concerts that are open to attend. Some of the music includes Winyo, a Kenyan musician who is performing three evening concerts and is also playing at the Kennedy Center in early July, Muslim songs from Northwest of China, Northern Chinese Opera, and Cantonese classical music. There are multiple dance performances to visit such as Dance from Western Kenya and the Leishan Miao Music and Dance Group from China.
For those interested in other activities, the festival leaves nothing to be desired. There are cooking demonstrations from both China and Kenya, a Tai-Chi lesson, storytelling, and a lesson on traditional Chinese medicine. There seem to be many talks and videos shown throughout the day as well, such as a workshop on the Kenyan Diaspora, Ethnic Identity cross program, The Search for Human Origins, and other educational talks and workshops. If crafts and art is an interest the festival also provides a Marketplace with jewelry, textiles, clothing, books, and more.
Food is an important aspect of any event and the Folklife Festival makes sure that those who enjoy unique food are not left out. There are two Chinese vendors: Chi Fan Le! Let’s Eat!, and Dragon Tavern who sell traditional Chinese entrees, desserts, and drinks. The three Kenyan food stands are Spice Routes Café, Choma Grill, and The Watering Hole. They will be providing traditional Kenyan cuisine such as samosas, sweet pastries, and curry. As well as traditional food, there will also be local vendors from Baltimore selling fresh fruit for the conscious consumer.
The festival is bound to be an enjoyable event with each year showcasing a different theme. This year’s theme of Kenya and China celebrates rich heritage, surviving tradition, and showcasing cultural traditions for preservation and promotion of greater understanding of world cultures.
The festival runs July 2, 2014-July 6th from 11am-5:30pm with special evening events.
Watch the promotional video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7wluHm1Hhg
Connect with the Folklife Festival on Facebook here:
https://www.facebook.com/smithsonianfolklifefestival?fref=ts
