Folklife Fest Provides Entertainment Ideas

The 41st annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival kicked off this week, providing a sneak peek into diverse forms of cultural entertainment. This year’s festival focuses on the Mekong River, Northern Ireland, and Virginia, bringing in hundreds of dance troupes, folk singers, storytellers, bagpipers, opera ensembles, and more. The 10-day event—running from June 27 to July 1 and from July 4 to July 8—is taking over seven city blocks, divided into three distinct areas (one for each region).The Mekong River performances will center around the Nine Dragons stage, featuring acts such as the Behnar gong and drum ensemble from Vietnam and indigenous Naxi rituals performed by dongba priests. Northern Ireland’s festivities will take place on and around the Lagan Stage, where traditional Irish music groups including Craobh Rua and Four Men and a Dog will perform. In celebration of Jamestown’s 400th anniversary, Virginia’s performances will take place on the Mountain Laurel stage, featuring bluegrass, blues, gospel, West African, and English forms of music. The festival is expected to draw more than a million visitors over the course of its run.