Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington D.C.: A Celebration of Culture

July Fourth our country celebrates its independence each year. What better time is there for a celebration of the cultural heritage of our country and the cultural heritage of our neighbors? What better place would there be for such a celebration than Washington D.C., our country's capital? For two weeks in the month of July, during the Independence celebration, Washington D.C. hosts The Smithsonian Folklife Festival. The festival takes place outside on the beautiful lawns of the great National Mall. With backdrops such as The Reflecting Pool, the Lincoln Memorial, the United States Capital and the National World War II Memorial, it is an event you are not likely to forget. Presented by the Smithsonian Museum, the festival is free to the public just as all Smithsonian Museums are. A fun festival that focuses on educating everyone that visits, it truly makes learning fun. Parking for the festival is just like parking for anything in Washington, D.C. There is none. You park where you can and plan to use the city transit facilities.

The Smithsonian has been presenting the festival for 42 years. This year it will be held June 25-June 29 and July 2-6, 2008. It is open every day, from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. There will also be events in the evening at 6 p.m.

Every year the Smithsonian focuses on a different state, a different country, or a different program. This year they will be celebrating: Bhutan: Land of the Thunder Dragon and the way they approached their life as they move into the 21^st century; NASA: Fifty Years and Beyond which will highlight the women and the men and the role they played in developing science and broadening our culture; and Texas: A Celebration of Music, Food, and Wine.

There will be music, performances, crafts for adults and kids as well, storytellers, and narrations of many cultural issues. Bring the family and learn together, the customs of Bhutan. Learn the songs, the dance and taste the food of this country. Learn the culture and traditions of this country far away.

The festival is everything that you would expect from a Smithsonian event. With elaborate displays, recreating events and sounds of the state or country they are highlighting, you will forget that you are standing in a park in the center of Washington, D.C.

There are concession stands available at the festival, and because this is a public event you will be able to picnic on the mall if you desire. Bring a basket and a table cloth to spread on the ground, but be sure not to spread it in a walking area!

Of course, no festival would be complete without the opportunity to spend money and this festival will not let you down either! There are many gift and souvenir opportunities.

Plan a visit to our country's capital and make this festival a primary event. For those of you have not yet visited Washington, D.C., the mall is in the center of the city and you can use this as the beginning and ending point of a day's adventure around the city.