Summertime on the Mall - Smithsonian Folklife Festival

June 13, 2013, by Mitch Toda

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Ironworkers at 1976 Festival of American Folklife.

Ironworkers at 1976 Festival of American Folklife, by Jan Faul. Smithsonian Institution Archives, Neg. no. 80-2634.10.

Ironworkers at 1976 Festival of American Folklife.

Ironworkers at 1976 Festival of American Folklife, by Jan Faul. Smithsonian Institution Archives, Neg. no. 80-2631.17A.

Ironworkers at 1976 Festival of American Folklife.

Ironworkers at 1976 Festival of American Folklife, by Jan Faul. Smithsonian Institution Archives, Neg. no. 80-2629.29A.

At the 1985 Festival of American Folklife, the Hayride String Band performs.

At the 1985 Festival of American Folklife, the Hayride String Band performs, by Jeff Tinsley. Record Unit 371, Box 5, Folder - June 1986, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Neg. no. 85-15097-01.

Good Morning America's Steve Bell and Joan Lunden interview Chief Charles Taylor

Good Morning America anchors Steve Bell (r.) and Joan Lunden interview Chief Charles Taylor at the Festival of American Folklife on July 4, 1985, by Richard K. Hofmeister. Record Unit 371, Box 4, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Neg. no. 85-15023-07.

The crowd at the Festival of American Folklife, 1985.

The crowd at the Festival of American Folklife, 1985, by Jeff Tinsley. Record Unit 371, Box 5, Folder - June 1987, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Neg. no. 85-15131.4.

Festival participants performing a dance associated with Haitian Vodoun ritual

Festival participants performing a dance associated with Haitian Vodoun ritual, 1989, by Rick Vargas. Accession 93-114, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Neg. no. 89-17204.5.

Junior volunteer John McCauley demonstrates marblemaking to onlookers

Junior volunteer John McCauley demonstrates marblemaking to onlookers at the 20th Festival of American Folklife, in the Summer of 1986, by Dale Hrabak. Record Unit 371, Box 5, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Neg. no. 86-7301-15A.

Richard Kurin, Director of the Center for Folklife Programs and Cultural Studies

Richard Kurin, Director of the Center for Folklife Programs and Cultural Studies, working to prepare the Mall for the Festival of American Folklife, 1991, by Jeff Tinsley. Accession 98-015, Box 2, Folder - Torch 1991, July 1991, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Neg. no. 91-7875.19A.

A participant from Hawaii demonstrates the making of an Hawaiian lei

At the Festival of American Folklife in 1989, a participant from Hawaii demonstrates crafts to children while visitors look on, the making of an Hawaiian lei. Record Unit 95, Box 59A, Folder 14, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Neg. no. 89-18479.

A woman participates in the blanket toss, a game in the World Eskimo Olympics.

At the July 3-14, 1974 Festival of American Folklife, Native Americans section, a woman participates in the blanket toss, a game in the World Eskimo Olympics. Record Unit 371, Box 2, Folder - July/August 1974, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Neg. no. 94-13194.

Summertime in Washington, DC usually brings a few things to mind for me:  the United States Department of Agriculture farmer's market, tourists, buses, Jazz in the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, and the Smithsonian Folklife Festival.  First started in 1967, this year's festival focuses on the following:

Running from June 24-26 and July 3-7, the schedule of activities, programs, and performances is incredible.  So if you'll be in Washington, DC during this time or live nearby, please come out to learn from and experience the Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

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