The DC Traveler

The annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall in Washington, DC is an opportunity to explore the living heritage and history of several cultures from around the globe. By experiencing a group’s music, songs, dance, art, food, crafts and overall culture, we can allow ourselves to better understand that culture’s people, ways of life, and history.

This year, the festival will highlight the cultures of:

- Bhutan: Land of the Thunder Dragon - About half the size of the state of Indiana, Bhutan is situated between China, Tibet and the snow covered Himalayan mountains to the north, and India and it’s steamy lowland jungles to the south. It’s one of the most isolated and least developed nations in the world, but with a rich past. Historically, in an effort to preserve its culture and environment, the government has put limits on tourists visiting Bhutan and its mostly agrarian society.

At the end of 2006, Bhutan’s King abdicated his throne to his son, as a nation transitions to a Democratic society. In 2008, the country will complete its transition to a full democracy with a new constitution and the election of a new parliament.

Over 100 Bhutanese, including artists, dancers, craftspeople, cooks, and farmers will be participating in this year’s festival and provide a rare glimpse it is mostly unknown culture and rarely visited country.

Visiting Bhutan can be difficult with only one airline (two planes) servicing its only airport, and all visitors must be part of an approved tour, so do this may be your only chance to spend some time with one of Bhutan’s 700,000 citizens.

- NASA: Fifty Years and Beyond – Perhaps not a culture, but the NASA’s implied culture of excellence and innovation took man into the space, then to the moon.

With plans being made for a manned mission to Mars, the agency, started by President Eisenhower, has broadened not just science, but daily life and the imaginations of children and star gazer’s for over 50 years.

NASA will have a cross-section of its 18,000 employees, including astronomers, astronauts, astrophysicists, and yes, probably a few real rocket scientists to help visitors understand how and why we explore the final frontier.

- Texas: A Celebration of Music, Food and Wine – as a second largest state in the US, Texas not only covers a lot of ground, but is a melting pot in its own right, blending immigrant cultures with that of Native Americans, Mexicans and Spanish. As part of the festival, the food and music, blended by these many and diverse cultures, define the Lone Star State.

Having lived in Texas for several years, I can attest that many of its residents still consider it, the Republic of Texas, not the 28th state. I have experienced many aspects of Texas culture that were exceptionally foreign to me (a former Yankee), including the breakfast taco, chicken fried steak, very danceable Tejano music, “real” barbecue, and sampling a few of the more than 100 wines from the Lone Star State.

What can you expect from the festival? Click here to see what the Festival’s Director has to say.

Smithsonian Folklife Festival
The National Mall, between Constitution and Independence Ave., and 7th and 14th Streets, NW.
Washington, DC 20002 (map it)

Click here for the official Festival map (pdf).

Dates and Times - July 2-6, 2008, 11:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., with evening events starting a 6:00 p.m.

Tickets – FREE

Nearest Metro Subway Station - Smithsonian (Mall exit) or Federal Triangle - Blue or Orange lines.

Parking – Metered street parking is available, but with the crowds, expect it to be a bit tough to find parking.

Images - Alamo, NASA (public domain), monks, building

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