Go to the Smithsonian Folklife Festival
A friend has invited you to do this with them.
Established in 1967, this festival brings master artisans, musicians and other tradition bearers to the National Mall in Washington each summer to show how their crafts and customs are practised. The Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage produces it, with free performances, workshops and demonstrations.
Gentle£100 to £500 / $130 to $650An afternoonOutdoorsAlone or with othersDistrict of ColumbiaSummer
How to start
- Read the Visit section of the official festival site for general information, the map and accessibility details.
- Check the festival schedule and choose the performances and workshops you most want to see.
- Bring water, a hat and comfortable shoes for a summer day outdoors on the Mall.
Where to go
We opened this link on 8 October 2026 and found it to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
Plan this
Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. Events have fixed dates and entry or ticket deadlines. Physical events add a training plan from our guidance engine, and its length is set by the engine, not by the date you would like.
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