The World at Your Doorstep: Folklife Festival

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EVERY YEAR, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival invites hundreds of musicians, cooks, craftspeople, storytellers, etc. from diverse traditions and sets them up along the National Mall. It's an unparalleled opportunity to soak up the sounds, sights and tastes of cultures from down the interstate or across the globe.

Given the timing of the event — the weekends bracketing Independence Day — it's debatable whether the intention is folkloric preservation or heat prostration. Regardless of the weather, the 2007 slate — Northern Ireland, the Mekong River, Virginia — is not to be missed.

As always, evening concerts will be major highlights. Thursday concludes with a "Northern Irish Dance Party" featuring Lucy Mulholland and Cuckoo's Nest. On Saturday, "Virginia: Roots of the Banjo" traces the instrument from Africa to America, with performers such as the Cheikh Hamala Diabaté Ensemble and Mike Seeger. On Sunday, the Nine Dragons Stage hosts "Sounds of the Mekong." During the days, if you know your way around an Irish session, you're invited to join the jam at the Lough Erne Inn stage.

And if you want to sample the music, dance, pottery, calligraphy and bamboo weaving of the region that stretches from Yunnan through Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and on into Vietnam, more than the culture is represented.

The climate is fairly accurate as well.

» National Mall, through July 1, then July 4-8. (Smithsonian)

Written by Express contributor Glenn Dixon
Photo by Sunee Prasongbundit