2025 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
From Wednesday, July 2, 2025 to Monday, July 7, 2025 July 2, 2025 July 7, 2025 Independent Collection
From July 2–7, 2025, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival returns to the National Mall with the theme "Youth and the Future of Culture." This free event spotlights how young people worldwide are preserving traditions and pioneering new cultural expressions. Explore live performances, craft demonstrations, and interactive exhibits led by youth artists, musicians, and activists. Highlights include the "Streetwise" tent featuring lowrider art, graffiti, and skate culture, as well as showcases on traditional building trades and language revitalization efforts. Festival hours are 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily, with evening concerts starting at 5:30 p.m. Join this vibrant celebration of intergenerational creativity and cultural exchange.
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