We’ve a very large audience of American followers for which this news will no doubt resonate the loudest. With the tag ‘Bringing the World’s Cultures to America’s Front Yard Since 1967’ you’d think that the Smithsonian Folklife Festival would remain at the historic National Mall in Washington, D.C. holding pride and place forever more. Sadly, that’s not the case and it’s all down to recent changes in the US National Park Service and new restrictions on how the Mall can be used by groups and events that will make future Festivals impossible to stage there.
This one seems to be all down to the grass, quite literally. After a $40million renovation and new turf…there’s now new rules as this news report shows
The 48th annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival will go ahead as normal this year at which visitors can learn about the diverse and rich cultures of China and Kenya. This year’s Festival will also feature a special concert to celebrate the legacy of the late Pete Seeger (1919-2014).
Whilst the festival will be held this year its future looks bleak. It’s a unique festival, there’s probably not another like it in the world as this introduction shows:
For 47 years the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage has co-sponsored this wildly popular event with NPS, but now the Park Service has made it clear that they prize grass over free cultural exchange and celebration.
Save the Smithsonian Folklife Festival is a real grassroots campaign to help keep the Festival on its rightful home, the National Mall, for many years to come.
Find out more about their campaign to save the festival and get involved here: http://savethefestival.org/
This year’s festival will be held Wednesday, June 25, through Sunday, June 29, and Wednesday, July 2, through Sunday, July 6, outdoors on the National Mall between Seventh and 14th streets. Admission is free. Festival hours are from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day, with special evening events beginning at 6 p.m. The Festival is co-sponsored by the National Park Service.
Main Festival Website: http://www.festival.si.edu/