Mission and History
The Smithsonian Folklife Festival is an international exposition of living cultural heritage annually produced outdoors on the National Mall of the United States in Washington, D.C., by the Smithsonian Institution's Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.
The Festival takes place for two weeks every summer overlapping the Fourth of July holiday. It is an educational presentation that features community-based cultural exemplars. Free to the public, like other Smithsonian museums, each Festival typically draws more than one million visitors.
General Information
The Festival is held outdoors on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., between the Smithsonian museums. There is no admission charge. Visitors should dress for hot and humid weather. Parking around the Mall is extremely limited, so visitors are advised to use Metrorail. The Smithsonian station (Mall exit) is at the Festival site. Federal Triangle and National Archives stations are close by. For general Smithsonian visitor information, call 202.633.1000 (voice) or 202.357.1729 (TTY).
Getting Here
Planning a visit to the Festival? goSmithsonian can help you plan your trip - from where to stay to what's happening at the Smithsonian. Visit www.gosmithsonian.com/lodging for more information.
Festival Hours
Festival hours are 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with special events taking place most evenings.
Services Visitors with Disabilities
Large-print and CD versions of the daily schedule and a CD version of the program book are available at the Festival Information kiosks and the Volunteer tent. The program book is available in other formats upon request. A limited number of wheelchairs are available for loan at the Volunteer tent. Audio loops are installed at the music stages. Service animals are welcome. American Sign Language interpreters are available on-site and can be requested at the Volunteer tent; the Festival schedule indicates which performances and presentations are interpreted.
First Aid A first aid station is located near the Smithsonian Metro stop on the Mall at Jefferson Drive and 12th Street.
Thunderstorms In case of a severe rainstorm, visitors should go inside a museum during visiting hours. Summer rainstorms are usually brief, and often the Festival resumes operations within an hour or two. In the event of a thunderstorm, the Festival must close. Do not remain under a tent or a tree!
Restrooms and Telephones
There are outdoor facilities for members of the public, including visitors with disabilities, located near each of the program areas on the Mall. Additional restroom facilities are available in the museum buildings during visiting hours. Public telephones are available on-site - opposite and inside the American History and Natural History museums.
Lost and Found/Lost People
Lost items or family members should be brought to or picked up from the Volunteer tent located near the Smithsonian Metro stop on the Mall at Jefferson Drive and 12th Street.
Sikh Tradition & Punjabi Art & Folk dance, Smithsonian Festival, June 24 & July 1st - National Mall, Washington, DC
|
SMITHSONIAN
FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL |
| featuring |
| Sikh Spiritual Tradition & Culture |
| Punjabi Art & Folk Dance |
| Join to celebrate our community’s presence in America! |
| JUNE 24-28 & JULY 1-5 NATIONAL MALL, WASHINGTON DC |
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| The National Mall is usually the center of every visitor's trip to Washington DC. |
Guru Gobind Singh Foundation (www.ggsfusa.com), in collaboration with Smithsonian Institution has coordinated presentations in Sikh Spiritual Tradition, Culture, Punjabi Art and Folk Dance.
For more information go to www.festival.si.edu
Smithsonian Institution is celebrating the Asian Pacific Americans in its Folklife Festival from June 24- July 5, 2010 which will feature Sikhs as an important part of the American society.
http://www.festival.si.edu/2010/asian_pacific_americans.aspx
http://www.festival.si.edu/
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During this festival over 100,000 people visit the National Mall every day. Smithsonian Festival will showcase the Sikh spiritual and cultural tradition. There will be turban tying on July 1st which will give an opportunity to fellow Americans to try turban and experience this important feature of Sikh faith. In addition, Sikh Kirtani Jatha of Guru Gobind Singh Foundation will be performing kirtan twice on July 1st.
June 24th, on the opening evening, will also feature several Punjabi folk dances for 2 hours starting at 5 PM.
July 1st will also feature Mehndi ( hena), Punjabi cooking, traditional Punjabi clothing and panel discussion on Punjabi language. Participants will have their names written in Punjabi as a book mark.
To volunteer in the festival and to participate in a group activity or to get more details,
please call: Ravi Singh 240 463 5839 or Dr. Harminder Kaur Mangat 301 461 2276.
or visit:
http://www.festival.si.edu/2010/schedule_07_01.aspx
http://www.festival.si.edu/2010/asian_pacific_americans.aspx
http://www.gothereguide.com/washington+dc+national+mall-place/
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| Smithsonian Folklife Festival - (June 24th - July 5th) The Mall in DC June 24th |
| Bhangra and Giddha: Folk Dances of Punjab - the Sikh Homeland in North India |
| 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm |
| Introduction Music of Dhol - Folk Drum Youth Bhangra by DCM Punjabi Arts Rhythm Bhangra Team Rhythm of Punjab - Giddha Performance DC Bhangra Crew DCM Punjabi Arts Bhangra Dance to the Beats of Dhol Continue Dancing with DJ Lucky |
| June 26th |
| Come and Learn North Indian Cooking |
| 1:15 pm - 2:00 pm |
| 3:30 pm - 4:15 pm |
| July 1st |
| Sikh Kirtani Jatha - Sikh Spiritual Hymns/Music Group |
| 11:00 am - 11:45 am |
| 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm |
| Come and Learn North Indian Cooking |
| 12:30 pm - 1:15 pm |
| 3:30 pm - 4:15 pm |
| Henna Tattoos |
| 11:00 am - 12:00 noon |
| 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm |
| 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm |
| Have Your Name Written in Punjabi - Sikh Language |
| 11:00 am - 12:00 noon |
| 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm |
| 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm |
| Turban Tying: Try On A Sikh Turban |
| 12:00 noon - 1:00 pm |
| 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm |
| 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm |
| Try Sikh Dresses from North India |
| 12:00 noon - 1:00 pm |
| 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm |
| 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm |
| Discussion Stage - Learn the Punjabi Language |
| 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm |