Morning on the Mall
Special Events
Morning on the Mall is a free, sensory-friendly program for children, teenagers, and young adults who are neurodivergent and their families. Prior to the program, registrants will receive materials to help them prepare for their visit including social narratives, a sensory map, and an event schedule. This event takes place before the Festival opens for the day and features artists, performers, and athletes from this year’s program. Come enjoy a relaxed and supportive environment with various activities including music and dance performances, tactile and sensory engagements, and demonstrations by Festival participants.
Please note: All attendees must pre-register with The Office of Visitor Accessibility. Space is limited for this event. To pre-register, please email access@si.edu.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Folklife Categories: Workshop. Accessibility: Sensory Programs. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM.
Ciitaq with the Kodiak Alutiiq Dancers
Native Language Reclamation
Bayley Rowland and Camille Hintz demonstrate an Alutiiq family favorite. Ciitaq is a dessert made of fresh salmonberries, mashed and combined with sugar and evaporated milk.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Foodways. Folklife Categories: Foodways. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. All-Day Native Arts Demonstrations
Native Language Reclamation
Throughout the day, see ongoing demonstrations of ribbonwork, lacrosse stick making, beading, salve making, finger weaving, basketry, clay pot making, lei making, and more.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Language Reclamation Area. Folklife Categories: Demonstration. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 11:00 AM – 5:30 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. How to Use a Pūʻili (Bamboo Rattle) with Hālau I Ka Leo Ola O Nā Mamo
Native Language Reclamation
This performance will introduce the audience to the pūʻili (Hawaiian bamboo rattles). Performers Pelehonuamea Harman, Kalāmanamana Harman, and Kaluhea Lindsey Asing describe the hand motions used with the instrument and different sounds/rhythms that can be made with them.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Music Room. Folklife Categories: Workshop. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Myaamia Peekitahaminki (Lacrosse)
Native Language Reclamation
Learn about peekitahaminki (lacrosse) and try out some basic skills with Myaamia students. One of the oldest sports in North America, and one of the fastest growing today, peekitahaminki is more than just a game but a way for Myaamia students to reconnect with history, culture, and family. Learn how to play by Myaamia rules using Myaamia sticks.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: The Lawn. Folklife Categories: Workshop. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. What’s Cool about ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i?
Native Language Reclamation
Join in an informal discussion about ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i, its origins and linguistic relatives, and some ways that the language is unique.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Language Lodge. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. All-Day Trades Demonstrations
Building Trades
Throughout the day, see ongoing demonstrations of stone carving, blacksmithing, architectural carpentry, ornamental plastering, stone masonry, woodworking, Appalachian-style log building, decorative painting, preservation joinery, historic brick masonry restoration, wood color matching, and classical architecture and design.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Building Trades Area. Folklife Categories: Demonstration. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 11:00 AM – 5:30 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Making Matters: Next Generation Artisans
Building Trades
Meet the next generation of artisans in the building trades! Isabella Riccio, third-generation decorative painter with John Canning & Co.; Omarion Thompson, Stephen T. Mather Building Arts & Craftsmanship High School student; and Martin Dougherty, preservation trades intern at George Washington’s Mount Vernon, all share a passion and pride in becoming skilled in the traditional building arts and contributing to the restoration and preservation of our built environment.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Shop Talk. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. ASL-interpreted program. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Muralism with Artist Evelyn Morán Cojoc
Youth Expressive Culture
Artist Evelyn Morán Cojoc is joined by local art students to create an original mural reflecting her Poqomchi’ Maya heritage and relations to land and place in her homeland of Guatemala: Ir kooch qa K'een Ak'al (Grandmother Earth's Gifts).
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Foodways. Folklife Categories: Demonstration. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 11:00 AM – 5:30 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. All-Day Activities for Kids and Families
Youth Expressive Culture
The Family Activities tent is a place especially for young visitors to play and explore—in addition to the things that kids can try throughout the program demonstration areas. Join in the fun with blocks, games, magnetic poetry, coloring, school spirit banners, and more! The U.S. Copyright Office hosts educational games and creative art activities, too.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Family Activities. Folklife Categories: Workshop. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 11:00 AM – 5:30 PM.
Artisan Demonstrations: Luthiery, Weaving, Saddle Making, and Leather, Silver, and Beadwork
Youth Expressive Culture
The artisans in this program area share artistic traditions and ways of life passed down through apprenticeships, family ties, and community-based programs. Luthiery: The Delgado family from Nashville, Tennessee, shares the construction of traditional stringed instruments used in mariachi and many other musical genres. Weaving: Master weavers and students from the Karen Weaving Circle revitalize their textile tradition from Burma (Myanmar) after resettling as refugees in Minnesota. Saddlery: The Carter family from Pingree, Idaho, demonstrate building Western saddles by hand. Leather, Silver, and Beadwork: The Severe family from Castleford, Idaho, demonstrate a wide range of skills that go into Western crafts or cowboy gear.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Learning Together Area. Folklife Categories: Demonstration. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 11:00 AM – 5:30 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Battle of the Bands
Youth Expressive Culture
The Museum of the Contemporary American Teenager (MoCAT) hosted a Battle of the Bands for high school bands across the D.C. area. Over the course of several rounds, bands performed against their competitors to come out on top. The final round will be hosted in The Classroom with bands Erthwork and Swing Set facing off. Show up and vote for your favorite band!
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: The Classroom. Folklife Categories: Performance. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 11:00 AM – 12:45 PM.
For more info visit www.instagram.com. Creativity and Sustainability with SAVA
Youth Expressive Culture
Explore lowrider-inspired family activities with Sacramento Academic and Vocational Academy—featuring a custom lowrider photo op and car-themed puzzles. Kids (and kids at heart) can bring lowriders to life with an assortment of coloring pages. Learn how students converted a classic car into an EV lowrider.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Streetwise | Lowriders. Folklife Categories: Workshop. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 11:00 AM – 5:30 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Custom Builds with Olathe Leadership Lowrider Bike Club
Youth Expressive Culture
Watch the students of Olathe Leadership Lowrider Bike Club transform ordinary frames into rolling works of art—complete with twisted chrome, bold paint, and classic lowrider flair. Try your hand at sanding, and get inspired by the power of leadership, teamwork, and hands-on creativity.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Streetwise | Lowriders. Folklife Categories: Demonstration. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 11:00 AM – 5:30 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Get Creative with MoCAT
Youth Expressive Culture
MoCAT Bedroom: Posters, Fashion, Friendship Bracelets, and Music
Come into The Bedroom to explore teenage identity, fashion, taste, and expression! The Museum of Contemporary American Teenagers presents rotating hands-on activities, demos, and discussions: Jewelry making, Collage poster making, Hands-on activities are limited to ten visitors at a time, first come, first served.
At 1 p.m. join a discussion on teen fashion and upcycling!
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: MoCAT Area. Folklife Categories: Workshop. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 11:00 AM – 5:30 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Kids’ Skate Lessons (Ages 6–12)
Youth Expressive Culture
Skateboarding is a fun physical activity that builds confidence and connection. Lessons are taught by local skating instructors Han Bauer, Chris Schlegel, JT, and Sir Blair!
Lessons are capped at 20 people, and ages 6 to 12 are prioritized. Please register in advance online. Pre-registration will close at 9 a.m. the day of the lesson.
Please arrive 10 minutes before the lesson time. If you are not there and ready to skate at 11 a.m. your slot may be given to another visitor on a first-come, first-serve basis.
WAIVERS
Parent(s)/guardian(s) must fill and sign a waiver on behalf of their child(ren) and be present during the lesson. You may print the waiver at home, fill it out, and bring it to the lesson, or you can sign one when you arrive. Download the waiver. EQUIPMENT
Skateboards will be provided. Helmets are required; please bring your own safety equipment. A limited supply of helmets and pads will be available.
Registration full? A limited number of spaces may be available if there is a no-show on a…
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Streetwise | Skating. Folklife Categories: Demonstration. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Lowrider Art Demonstrations
Youth Expressive Culture
Cruise in for ongoing lowrider-inspired painting and plaque-making demonstrations by visual artist Cecelia Perez and the craftspeople of Indonesian jewelry brand SWEDA. Watch as they turn lowrider dreams into bold, vibrant reality.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Streetwise | Lowriders. Folklife Categories: Demonstration. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 11:00 AM – 5:30 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Open Studio Hours
Youth Expressive Culture
Calling all aspiring musicians and songwriters! Our open-air recording studio on the National Mall is open for collaborations with the help of the mentors and sound engineers at Rebel Song Academy. Rebel Song Academy is an innovative music camp, a program of the Arts as Mentorship nonprofit. Founder Enrique Chi believes that arts-music mentorship can be a space of healing and social change. Since it started in 2017, the academy has built a network of professional, award-winning musicians who mentor its students. Their curriculum guides participants through their own personal artistic process, building life and career skills as they collaborate through music writing, recording, producing, and promoting. Through Rebel Song Academy, mentees produce music from their own experiences and find their voices within their own heritage.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: New Sounds Lab. Folklife Categories: Workshop. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Skate Arts and Design with Di’Orr Greenwood
Youth Expressive Culture
Diné multidisciplinary artist Di’Orr Greenwood with her team, Brice Bowman and Samuel Bowman, share skate arts like hand-painted and wood-burned skateboard decks, as well as wearable art, traditional handmade flutes, and other objects they create.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Streetwise | Skating. Folklife Categories: Demonstration. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 11:00 AM – 5:30 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Teaching the Next Generation
Youth Expressive Culture
Artist Evelyn Morán Cojoc and luthier Manuel Delgado, together with young mentees, share the stage for a conversation about teaching as part of their creative lives.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Olivia Cadaval Story Circle. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Captioning. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Telling the Story: Malcolm Davis
Youth Expressive Culture
“Affrilachian” storyteller and theatre practitioner Malcolm Davis performs his solo performance piece The Slave, Monk Estill, a journey into the Revolutionary War in Kentucky.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Wordsmiths’ Cafe. Folklife Categories: Performance. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. ASL-interpreted program. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Tradiciones del Norte de Potosí, Bolivia: “El baile del Tinku”
Youth Expressive Culture
Tinkus: Local youth performing a Bolivian folk dance which tells the story of an American Indian ritual in the North of Potosí. The Tinku ceremony is held by the Qaraqara people of North Potosí Bolivia. In Quechua, tinkuy means “to come together,” and the ritual combines fist-fighting with dancing. Tinku honors the constellation Chakana (Southern Cross) on May 4 and is for the Pachamama (Mother Earth). Unlike the actual ritual, this folk dance can be performed at any time. It emulates warrior movements and traditional clothing.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Festival Main Stage. Folklife Categories: Performance. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM.
Alutiiq/Sugpiaq Games
Native Language Reclamation
Come play this family-friendly game with the Kodiak Alutiiq Dancers! Kakangaq is a game hunters use to sharpen their hunting skills. Players compete by throwing small discs at a target placed on a seal skin.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Language Lodge. Folklife Categories: Workshop. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Myaamia Kiilhswaakani: The Myaamia Lunar Calendar
Native Language Reclamation
Learn about the Myaamia lunar calendar and the ecological changes that happen during each phase of the moon with Tim McCoy, Kara Strass, and Myaamia students.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Gifts from the Land. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Voices of Young Architects: Bridging the Design-Build Gap
Building Trades
Meet Lucy Florenzo, Peyton Hoffman, and Mary Bridget Jones, architecture students at the University of Notre Dame School of Architecture, along with Isabel Wood, classical architecture student at the American College of the Building Arts, and learn why they value the knowledge and skill that craftspeople in the building arts bring to architectural projects.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Shop Talk. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. ASL-interpreted program. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. A Porridge from Burma: Tak Kapow
Youth Expressive Culture
Artists from the Karen Weaving Circle, based in Minnesota, demonstrate a traditional Karen rice porridge. Tak Kapow blends dried meat, greens, and other vegetables. This dish became a symbol of sustenance as refugees adapted by incorporating wild herbs from the forest.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Foodways. Online Link: https://www.youtube.com/live/cwzxO-w9wro. Folklife Categories: Foodways. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. ASL-interpreted program. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM.
Crushed and Embark Joint Skate Demos with Music by DJ Jah Messenger
Youth Expressive Culture
Watch the teams from Crushed and Embark skate shops throw down in a special joint demo before the skate competition kicks off at 3 p.m.! Come get hyped, see local talent in action, and get inspired before the contest. This is your chance to catch style, skill, and community all in one session.
Enjoy music selections by DJ Jah Messenger.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Streetwise | Skating. Folklife Categories: Performance. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Family Drumming Workshop with ABOP
Youth Expressive Culture
By creating strong relationships between protégés and mentors, the Alliance of Black Orchestral Percussionists creates pathways for young Black musicians to become professional classical musicians.
Come join their six virtuosi protégés in a drumming workshop for participants of all ages. Drums will be provided, first come, first served.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Beatworks. Folklife Categories: Workshop. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Media Arts Workshop: Zine Lab with DC Zinefest
Youth Expressive Culture
Share your art, stories, and perspectives in pocket-size publications that you can make, take, and share.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Workshop. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Venue: Arts and Industries Building.
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Media Arts Workshops: Zines, Cyanotypes, Animation, Videos and Podcasts, Vinyl Painting
Youth Expressive Culture
Every afternoon, join us for ongoing media arts workshops in the north wing of the Arts and Industries Building. No sign-up is required, but workshops are limited to ten participants on a first-come, first-served basis. Activities include:
Zine Making: Self-published zines (pronounced zeen, like magazine) are accessible and affordable forms of self-expression. Use materials here to make your zine, then you can make copies to distribute to friends!
Cyanotype Prints: This workshop will demonstrate the expressive nature of reverse photography using cyanotype—one of the oldest forms of photography in the world. The premise is to take a photograph and invert it to create a negative, then print the photo using cyanotype ink and UV light (or sunshine).
Stop-Motion Animation: Stop-motion is one of the earliest forms of animation, and it’s still being used today! Try your hand at creating your own animation here.
Podcasting: Ever thought about making your own film, podcasting, or being an influencer? Learn how…
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Workshop. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Venue: Arts and Industries Building.
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. New Sounds Show Rehearsal
Youth Expressive Culture
Rebel Song Academy is an innovative music camp that guides participants through their own personal artistic process, building life and career skills as they collaborate through music writing, recording, producing, and promoting. Through Rebel Song Academy, mentees produce music from their own experiences and find their voices within their own heritage. Listen to the final rehearsal of the New Sounds Project hosted by the Rebel Song Academy before their showcase at 2 p.m. on the Festival Main Stage. See how performers and mentors fine-tune their last musical details and work to achieve their best sound quality before a presentation.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Music Room. Folklife Categories: Workshop. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Plugged In: D.C.-Area Community Resources Fair
Youth Expressive Culture
Want to join something? Looking for a new club or extracurricular activity? Come to the rotunda of the Arts + Industries Building to meet with local organizations that create opportunities for youth, from employment and leadership to the arts and more.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (Rotunda). Folklife Categories: Workshop. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Venue: Arts and Industries Building.
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
Puppet Show: Creativity and Copyright
Youth Expressive Culture
Copyright is all around you! It protects your favorite books, songs, artwork, movies, video games, and so much more. At noon and 3 p.m. enjoy an interactive puppet show that teaches kids about creativity and copyright. Presented by the U.S. Copyright Office.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Family Activities. Folklife Categories: Performance. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 12:00 PM – 12:10 PM.
Showcasing the Ghetto Film School
Youth Expressive Culture
Join us for a selection of short films from Ghetto Film School’s collaboration with the Huntington Museum and Library in Los Angeles County. Accessibility note: While the films in this session are subtitled or open captioned, introductions prior and discussions after may not be captioned.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Folklife Categories: Film. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected). Venue: Arts and Industries Building.
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Stories That Heal: Jada Anderson and David Fakunle
Youth Expressive Culture
Join storytellers Dr. David Fakunle and Jada Anderson for a discussion that explores how storytelling can be used as a dynamic tool for health and healing.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Wordsmiths’ Cafe. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. ASL-interpreted program. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Tunes from New England and Beyond with Sugar in the Pan
Youth Expressive Culture
Vermont Folklife’s Sugar in the Pan band plays traditional music from New England, Québec, Maritime Canada, and beyond, featuring lively tunes that will have folks of all ages up and dancing! These fantastic teenage musicians with the Young Tradition Touring Group offer creative and engaging arrangements for audiences.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Festival Main Stage. Folklife Categories: Performance. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Women at the Wheel: Girls and Women in Lowrider Culture
Youth Expressive Culture
Join a conversation with women and girls who are challenging stereotypes and driving lowrider culture and creativity, with artist Cecelia Perez, ShaVolla Rodriguez of the California Automotive Museum, and members of the Olathe Leadership Lowrider Bike Club, moderated by Denise Sandoval.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Olivia Cadaval Story Circle. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. ASL-interpreted program. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Hula with Hālau I Ka Leo Ola O Nā Mamo
Native Language Reclamation
This performance includes the entire hālau (school) and features hula (dances) and mele (songs) celebrating Ke Aukahi Hoʻōla ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, the Hawaiian Language Revitalization Movement.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Potomac Atrium (NMAI). Folklife Categories: Performance. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Raising Children in the Language through Halloween Potion Making
Native Language Reclamation
Watch how young Kanien’kehá:ka families teach and interact in their language through a kid-friendly potion-making activity.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Language Lodge. Folklife Categories: Demonstration. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Stories in Stone: The Art of Lettering at Washington National Cathedral
Building Trades
Learn about the design, carving, and installation of the inscriptions on stone tablets for the “American Song” poem by Elizabeth Alexander to accompany the new “Now and Forever” stained glass windows by Kerry James Marshall at Washington National Cathedral, as well as other beautiful inscriptions in stone that grace the Cathedral. Hear from stone carvers and letterers Nicholas and Hope Benson of the John Stevens Shop and Washington National Cathedral stone masons and carvers Sean Callahan, Joe Alonso, and Brianna Castelli about bringing their skills together to produce the exquisite artistry seen throughout the Cathedral.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Shop Talk. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Elevating Youth Voices: Searching for the Story
Youth Expressive Culture
Join filmmakers Gillian Bui (Ghetto Film School), Rameshwar Bhatt (independent), and Jordan Gray (WXOX) for a discussion about the process of researching and preparing for documentary creation.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required). Venue: Arts and Industries Building.
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Idaho Biscuits and Gravy
Youth Expressive Culture
In this hands-on cooking demonstration, members of the Carter family from Idaho share their recipe for fluffy biscuits and rich sausage gravy.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Foodways. Online Link: https://www.youtube.com/live/7uBqU5iKMT0. Folklife Categories: Foodways. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. ASL-interpreted program. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM.
Open Rehearsal with Mariachi Tesoro (BYO Instrument)
Youth Expressive Culture
Mariachi Tesoro de San Fernando is the performance ensemble of the Mariachi Master Apprenticeship Program (MMAP) based in Los Angeles County. Created in 2001 in collaboration with the late Nati Cano (founder of Mariachi Los Camperos, Smithsonian Folkways recording artists), MMAP has helped develop many generations of mariachi musicians in Southern California by pairing master musicians with community members and youth. Join this open rehearsal as a listener or as a player and learn some mariachi music repertoire. Play alongside the musicians of Mariachi Tesoro and be part of the ensemble. All levels of musicianship are welcome, but you must bring your own instrument.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Music Room. Folklife Categories: Workshop. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM.
Poetry by National Youth Poet Laureates
Youth Expressive Culture
Join us for a reading with National Youth Poet Laureate Evan Wang (Pennsylvania) and state youth poet laureates Harmony Devoe (Vermont), Emily Hsu (New Jersey), and Elani Spencer (Virginia).
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Wordsmiths’ Cafe. Folklife Categories: Performance. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Sidewalk Astronomy
Youth Expressive Culture
Explore the sky with the National Capital Astronomer’s Club. During the day, create your own spectroscope to view the different colors that make up light. In the evening, stargaze with amateur astronomers, some of whom made their own telescopes.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Streetwise | Lowriders. Folklife Categories: Workshop. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 1:00 PM – 9:30 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Soul Classics with Stax Music Academy’s 910 Band
Youth Expressive Culture
The mission of Stax Music Academy is to inspire young people and enhance their academic, cognitive, performance, and leadership skills through music, focusing on the rich legacy of Stax Records. Since 2000, the academy has been igniting the professional careers of musicians including MonoNeon, Amber Robinson, and Evvie McKinney. In addition to providing music performance and music theory training in popular genres such as blues, gospel, rock ’n’ roll, and R&B, Stax teaches music history, business, and leadership, ensuring students can produce their own music and create their own musical paths.
The music business is an ever-changing landscape that young musicians must quickly adapt to. Join Pasley Thompson from the Stax Music Academy to talk and learn about the many aspects of having a music career, from licensing and distributing your first album to creating your own brand.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Festival Main Stage. Folklife Categories: Performance. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Taking It to the Streets: Sidewalk Astronomy and Community Science
Youth Expressive Culture
Sidewalk astronomers set up telescopes in public places to share their knowledge of the cosmos. Join Gael Gomez and Guy Brandenburg, sidewalk astronomers in Washington, D.C. for a conversation about the challenges and rewards of bringing astronomical science to the broader public.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Olivia Cadaval Story Circle. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. ASL-interpreted program. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Teen Athletes
Youth Expressive Culture
In a conversation presented by Museum of Contemporary American Teenagers (MoCAT), high school athletes discuss how they balance athletics and academics, and the benefits and costs of sports.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: The Classroom. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. ASL-interpreted program. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. What’s Your Story: Oral History Gathering
Youth Expressive Culture
Everyone has a story to share, and it’s our stories that weave together the fabric of each community. Action Youth Media invites you to share the stories that make your family or community unique. Visitors will have the opportunity to record their story for personal use and/or for addition to the AYM oral history archive for the region.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (West Hall). Folklife Categories: Workshop. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Venue: Arts and Industries Building.
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Visual Description Tour: Festival Highlights
Special Events
This tour, designed for those who are blind or low-vision, will travel through the Festival grounds featuring a description of selected venues and structures, description and tactile exploration of artisan demonstrations, and interactive experience opportunities. Live description will be transmitted using LiveVoice, a free audio streaming app. We recommend that visitors download the LiveVoice app for free on Google Play or the App Store prior to arriving. The access code for this event will be made available onsite.Visitors are welcome (but not required) to wear masks due to close proximity during the tour. Traditional sighted-guide assistance (hand resting on the guide’s elbow) will be available, although the describer and volunteers can also offer spoken navigation and orientation guidance if preferred. For more information or to pre-register, please call 202-633-7488 or email folklife@si.edu. Walk-up space is available, but pre-registration is encouraged. Please meet 10 min before the tour start at the…
Stage: Accessibility Tent. Folklife Categories: Workshop. Accessibility: Audio description.
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
What’s Cool about Myaamia?
Native Language Reclamation
Join in an informal discussion about the Myaamia language, its origins and linguistic relatives, and some ways that the language is unique.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Language Lodge. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. National Park Service Treasures: The Craftspeople Preserving Traditional Skills and History in America’s Parks
Building Trades
The National Park Service Historic Preservation Training Center is dedicated to excellent craftsmanship and the safe preservation and maintenance of historic structures at national parks and partner facilities across the country. The center focuses on preservation projects involving wood-crafting, masonry, metalwork, carpentry, and work on historic monuments. Join us for an inspiring conversation with National Park Service craftspeople who are preserving structures that embody the rich history and cultural heritage of the United States.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Shop Talk. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. ASL-interpreted program. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Andean Hip-Hop with Andes MC and Eber Miranda
Youth Expressive Culture
In this interactive workshop, visitors craft rhymes in English, Aymara, Quechua, Spanish, or any language they want, with Andean hip-hop artists Andes MC and Eber Miranda.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (West Hall). Folklife Categories: Workshop. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Venue: Arts and Industries Building.
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Callers Workshop with Caller Adina Gordon
Youth Expressive Culture
Are you curious about calling contra or square dances? Or perhaps you already call dances and want to work on a skill or share ideas. Come prepared to talk, dance, learn, and try new things.
Adina Gordon has been calling dances for over twenty years and takes particular pleasure in introducing new dancers to contra, square, and English country dancing. With a wide repertoire of dances both old and new, she calls dances that cause spontaneous eruptions of joy on dance floors coast to coast.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Music Room. Folklife Categories: Workshop. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM.
Eats + Beats
Youth Expressive Culture
Eats + Beats is a show where chefs and music producers break bread and chop it up—literally. Featured guests find connection and commonality in how they move from inspiration to execution to final product.
Born and raised in Washington D.C. Darryl “Chef DJ” Johnson has been cooking and doing food business for over twenty years and has launched his own award-winning sandwich shoppe, Marty Clarks Uptown. When he is not spending time with his family, you can catch him in kitchens around the country, cooking, teaching and consulting, doing his part to push the industry forward.
Nick “tha 1da” Hernandez is a D, producer, and sound designer from Baltimore. He has been scoring soundtracks for local and international artists for over twenty-five years.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Foodways. Folklife Categories: Foodways. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM.
Learning in the Family: Music and Western Crafts
Youth Expressive Culture
Join a conversation with the Severe family, artisans in Western Crafts, and the Kennedy family, musicians from Vermont. This session particularly highlights the role of mothers in cultivating the next generation of artists and artisans.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Olivia Cadaval Story Circle. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Los Locos
Youth Expressive Culture
Los Locos is a musicalized poetry project that blends cumbia, rock, and jazz to explore themes of immigration, identity, and latinidad. Using a wide range of Latin American rhythms, Los Locos brings poetry into spaces where it’s rarely found—from street corners to music stages and cultural gatherings. Unapologetic and unfiltered, Los Locos breaks open the space between music and poetry, daring audiences to keep up.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: The Classroom. Folklife Categories: Performance. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM.
MoCAT Bathroom: Ceramics Workshop
Youth Expressive Culture
Celebrate teen art making and join in a hands-on clay sculpture activity, suitable for older kids and teens. Participation in this workshop is limited to ten visitors at a time—first come, first served.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: MoCAT Area. Folklife Categories: Workshop. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. MoCAT Bedroom: “Dear Diary” Cross-Generation Chat: Music Memories
Youth Expressive Culture
Join an intergenerational conversation about history, memory, and teen experiences of music and concerts, through the lens of diaries and journaling.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: MoCAT Area. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. New Sounds Lab Showcase
Youth Expressive Culture
All week, Festival musicians guided by the songwriting mentors and sound engineers of Rebel Song Academy have worked collaboratively to record new songs in the New Sounds Lab. This performance will be the culmination of all their hard work!
Rebel Song Academy is an innovative music camp that guides participants through their own personal artistic process, building life and career skills as they collaborate through music writing, recording, producing, and promoting. Through Rebel Song Academy, mentees produce music from their own experiences and find their voices within their own heritage.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Festival Main Stage. Folklife Categories: Performance. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. ASL-interpreted program. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. On Belonging: Film Screening and Round Table (Part 1)
Youth Expressive Culture
Join participants from Action Youth Media and Ghetto Film School for a screening and round table discussion about the themes of identity and belonging explored in their films. Accessibility note: While the films in this session are subtitled or open captioned, introductions prior and discussions after may not be captioned.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Folklife Categories: Film. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required). Venue: Arts and Industries Building.
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Poetry, Influences, and Craft with Cassandra Quayson
Youth Expressive Culture
Cassandra Quayson is a Ghanaian American writer and graduate of the New York University MFA Program in Creative Writing, where she was a Goldwater Fellow. She is a writing consultant at Columbia University’s School of Social Work, 2024–25 Poetry Coalition Fellow, and the Network Manager of the National Youth Poet Laureate Program. A finalist for the 2025 FSG Writers’ Fellowship, her work is informed by love, abolition, and her studies in sociolinguistics; she is currently working on her first novel.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Wordsmiths’ Cafe. Folklife Categories: Performance. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM.
Silver Pendant Making Demonstration
Youth Expressive Culture
Learn about traditional silver craftsmanship as the artists of Indonesian jewelry brand SWEDA demonstrate intricate pendant-making techniques and artistry. Each day, these demonstrations feature an exchange with guest artists of other creative disciplines.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Streetwise | Lowriders. Folklife Categories: Demonstration. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Media Arts Workshop: Zine Lab with DC Zinefest
Youth Expressive Culture
Share your art, stories, and perspectives in pocket-size publications that you can make, take, and share.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Workshop. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Venue: Arts and Industries Building.
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Iethiiehià:rons (We Raise Them) Community Garden Initiative
Native Language Reclamation
Learn about Iethiiehià:rons “We Raise Them,” the Ionkwahronkha'onhátie community garden initiative, with Tsiotenhariio Herne.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Gifts from the Land. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Kodiak Alutiiq Dancers
Native Language Reclamation
Watch the Kodiak Alutiiq Dancers from Alaska perform traditional and new songs and dances.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Potomac Atrium (NMAI). Folklife Categories: Performance. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Myaamia Peekitahaminki (Lacrosse)
Native Language Reclamation
Learn about peekitahaminki (lacrosse) and try out some basic skills with Myaamia students. One of the oldest sports in North America, and one of the fastest growing today, peekitahaminki is more than just a game but a way for Myaamia students to reconnect with history, culture, and family. Learn how to play by Myaamia rules using Myaamia sticks.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: The Lawn. Folklife Categories: Workshop. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. The Importance of Elders and Ancestors
Native Language Reclamation
Join an informal discussion with participants of the Native Language Reclamation program.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Language Lodge. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Ancestral Artistry: Restoring New Orleans’ Historic Decorative Ironwork
Building Trades
The rich architectural legacy of New Orleans’ decorative ironwork traces its roots back almost 300 years. Meet Darryl Reeves, master blacksmith with the New Orleans Master Crafts Guild, who is working to preserve this important craft tradition and train the next generation of skilled artisans in New Orleans, including apprentice blacksmith Karina Roca.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Shop Talk. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Ancestors and Influences
Youth Expressive Culture
Join literary artists Sainey Ceesay, Malcolm Davis, Harmony Devoe, Emily Hsu, and Elani Spencer for a reading and discussion of works by some of the poets who have influenced their work.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Wordsmiths’ Cafe. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Chile Verde Pork Gorditas: A Family Tradition
Youth Expressive Culture
Join chef Checo Alonso and his daughter Aida Alonso as they prepare and share the rich story of gorditas filled with chile verde and pork, a cherished recipe passed down through generations of family. Checo will reflect on how making gorditas with his daughter brings them closer to their roots in his mother’s hometown, preserving and celebrating their Mexican heritage.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Foodways. Online Link: https://www.youtube.com/live/Uoj9VVitVaU. Folklife Categories: Foodways. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. ASL-interpreted program. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM.
Mentorship and Memory in Skating and Skate Arts
Youth Expressive Culture
Skaters and artists come together to reflect on mentorship in the world of skating and in Native perspective. Join Diné multi-disciplinary artist Di’Orr Greenwood with her team members Brice Bowman and Samuel Bowman for this conversation.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Olivia Cadaval Story Circle. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. ASL-interpreted program. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. MoCAT Bedroom: Lyricism and Songwriting Chat
Youth Expressive Culture
Tune in as local singer-songwriter Emmett Justice shares his process of crafting new music.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: MoCAT Area. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. On Belonging: Film Screening and Round Table (Part 2)
Youth Expressive Culture
Join participants from Action Youth Media and Ghetto Film School for a screening and round table discussion about the themes of identity and belonging explored in their films. Accessibility note: While the films in this session are subtitled or open captioned, introductions prior and discussions after may not be captioned.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Folklife Categories: Film. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required). Venue: Arts and Industries Building.
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Petrichor
Youth Expressive Culture
Local punk rock band Petrichor plays original music.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: The Classroom. Folklife Categories: Performance. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM.
For more info visit www.instagram.com. Puppet Show: Creativity and Copyright
Youth Expressive Culture
Copyright is all around you! It protects your favorite books, songs, artwork, movies, video games, and so much more. At noon and 3 p.m. enjoy an interactive puppet show that teaches kids about creativity and copyright. Presented by the U.S. Copyright Office.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Family Activities. Folklife Categories: Performance. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 3:00 PM – 3:10 PM.
Skate Competition with Music by DJ Girlypop Princess
Youth Expressive Culture
Join us for a high-energy skateboarding competition hosted by Crushed and Embark skate shops! Open to all skill levels, this event is a chance to showcase your style, skill, and creativity on the board. Compete, cheer on local skaters, and celebrate the culture that brings us together.
Enjoy music selections by DJ Girlypop Princess.
*A signed waiver is required to skate. You can bring a signed copy or sign it when you arrive. Please arrive between 3:30 and 4 p.m. to sign your waiver. Any skater under 18 must have a parent or guardian present. Download the waiver.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Streetwise | Skating. Folklife Categories: Performance. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Stax Music Academy: Songwriting with Zipporah Israel
Youth Expressive Culture
What does it take to be a songwriter? Come learn what makes a song good. All songs start with an idea, but what comes next? Participants and audience members will leave this workshop with an understanding of chord progressions, songwriting structures and the skills to make your own hit song.
The mission of Stax Music Academy is to inspire young people and enhance their academic, cognitive, performance, and leadership skills through music, focusing on the rich legacy of Stax Records. Since 2000, the academy has been igniting the professional careers of musicians including MonoNeon, Amber Robinson, and Evvie McKinney. In addition to providing music performance and music theory training in popular genres such as blues, gospel, rock ’n’ roll, and R&B, Stax teaches music history, business, and leadership, ensuring that students can produce their own music and create their own musical paths.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Music Room. Folklife Categories: Workshop. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Onkwehonwe'néha Tewatá:ti! Learn Some Easy Kanien’kéha
Native Language Reclamation
Join Ionkwahronkha’onhatie to learn greetings and introductions in Kanien’kéha, or the Mohawk language.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Language Lodge. Folklife Categories: Workshop. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. A Tour of D.C. through the Trades: Meet the Artisans Behind the Buildings
Building Trades
Meet skilled artisans who have crafted and preserved Washington’s built environment. Stone carver and letterer Nicholas Benson designed and carved the lettering for the National World War II Memorial; the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial; and other treasured monuments and memorials throughout the city. Head stone mason Joe Alonso helped to build Washington National Cathedral’s soaring west towers and is now working to restore the Cathedral’s intricate Gothic-style stonework after it suffered severe earthquake damage. Master decorative painter John Canning and his talented team of craftspeople have restored many of Washington’s most important historic buildings, including the National Building Museum and the U.S. Capitol Building. National Park Service woodworker and exhibit specialist Alyssa Fortune has spent years contributing to the restoration of Arlington National Cemetery.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Shop Talk. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Guma Chamorro Storytelling and Song Traditions
Youth Expressive Culture
Students and teachers from the POLKSAI Guma Chamorro, a high school performing arts groupfrom the Northern Mariana Islands, share Chamorro songs, chants, and stories.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: The Classroom. Folklife Categories: Demonstration. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM.
Indonesian Gule Stew
Youth Expressive Culture
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Foodways. Online Link: https://www.youtube.com/live/N6rjngFp7Jo. Folklife Categories: Foodways. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. ASL-interpreted program. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM.
Jam Session with Sugar in the Pan
Youth Expressive Culture
Enjoy this jam session as a listener or a player along with musicians of Sugar in the Pan. Learn and listen to the New England folk music traditions, or share your own tunes with the audience and participants. All levels of musicianship are welcome, but you must bring your own instrument!
Sugar in the Pan is a six-piece band that grew out of the Young Tradition Vermont Touring Group run by Vermont Folklife, an education and cultural research nonprofit that works to document, nurture, and present community-based expressions including traditional music genres.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Music Room. Folklife Categories: Workshop. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. MoCAT Bathroom: Graffiti Time
Youth Expressive Culture
Grab a Sharpie and join the conversation on the walls of the Bathroom! We invite you to bring positive messages and creativity to the age-old tradition of marking on the bathroom walls.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: MoCAT Area. Folklife Categories: Workshop. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Open Studio Hours
Youth Expressive Culture
Calling all aspiring musicians and songwriters! Our open-air recording studio on the National Mall is open for collaborations with the help of the mentors and sound engineers at Rebel Song Academy. Rebel Song Academy is an innovative music camp, a program of the Arts as Mentorship nonprofit. Founder Enrique Chi believes that arts-music mentorship can be a space of healing and social change. Since it started in 2017, the academy has built a network of professional, award-winning musicians who mentor its students. Their curriculum guides participants through their own personal artistic process, building life and career skills as they collaborate through music writing, recording, producing, and promoting. Through Rebel Song Academy, mentees produce music from their own experiences and find their voices within their own heritage.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: New Sounds Lab. Folklife Categories: Workshop. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Roping Demonstration
Youth Expressive Culture
Kids from the Severe and Carter families from Idaho show off their abilities with a loop, sharing some of the games and tricks they use to master roping cattle. Roping is an essential skill for everyday work on the ranch or competition in the rodeo arena.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: MoCAT Area. Folklife Categories: Workshop. Accessibility: Audio description. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Storytelling with David Fakunle and Jada Anderson
Youth Expressive Culture
Storytellers Dr. David Fakunle and Jada Anderson share ancestral stories and wisdom.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Wordsmiths’ Cafe. Folklife Categories: Performance. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Mentorship and Community: Remembering Olivia Cadaval
Special Events
Join us for a story circle to celebrate the life and work of our colega, mentor, and friend, Olivia Cadaval (1943–2025), who served as a curator at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage for three decades. The Festival was one of the many places where Olivia’s brilliance, creativity, and commitment to community shone brightly. Those who knew her well know what a great storyteller she was and how much she loved a good story. We invite attendees to share a story about her generosity and indomitable spirit.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Olivia Cadaval Story Circle. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM.
For more info visit folklife.si.edu. Folklife Coffeehouse
Youth Expressive Culture
Stop by the Foodways stage for a chance at a small drink sampling, food poetry, and the flavorful sounds of DJ Mojo to close out daytime festival programming.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Foodways. Folklife Categories: Foodways. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 5:00 PM – 5:30 PM.
On Key: Next-Gen Music Ensembles
Special Events
Schools are where many American youth encounter classical music for the first time. Outside of the classroom, nonprofits and after-school programs provide mentorship to young people to support their creative and personal growth.
This includes mariachi education programs such as the Mariachi Master Apprenticeship Program (MMAP) based in Los Angeles County and their performance ensemble, Mariachi Tesoro de San Fernando; the Alliance of Black Orchestral Percussionists, a nonprofit organization that mentors the next generation of young African American percussionists; and the DC Youth Orchestra Program, a PreK–12 after-school ensemble celebrating sixty-five years of music education in Washington, D.C.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Festival Main Stage. Online Link: https://www.youtube.com/live/rB0g38d6QDM. Folklife Categories: Performance. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. ASL-interpreted program. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM.
Community Contradance
Special Events
Join us for a special contradance on the National Mall with calling by Adina Gordon, a nationally acclaimed caller based in Vermont. Music will be provided by Sugar in the Pan, a six-piece youth band that grew out Vermont Folklife’s Young Tradition Vermont Touring Group. No experience or partner needed—just bring your energy and willingness to have fun!
*Note to dancers: the dance area at the Main Stage is in the grass, so plan your footwear accordingly.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Festival Main Stage. Folklife Categories: Performance. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Sunday, July 6, 2025, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM.
Onenhste’ón:we (Real Corn)
Native Language Reclamation
Learn with Wenhni’tiio Gareau about Kanien’kehá:ka corn and corn traditions while looking at plants from their territory in Upstate New York, Ontario, and Quebec.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Gifts from the Land. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. All-Day Native Arts Demonstrations
Native Language Reclamation
Throughout the day, see ongoing demonstrations of ribbonwork, lacrosse stick making, beading, salve making, finger weaving, basketry, clay pot making, lei making, and more.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Language Reclamation Area. Folklife Categories: Demonstration. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 11:00 AM – 5:30 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Invitational Dances with the Kodiak Alutiiq Dancers
Native Language Reclamation
Come and dance with the Kodiak Alutiiq Dancers! This hands-on workshop introduces visitors to easy dance steps.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Music Room. Folklife Categories: Workshop. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Lohe, ʻOni, Walaʻau: Hear, Do, Speak
Native Language Reclamation
Join a game of interactive ʻōlelo Hawai‘i and learn to speak some Hawaiian.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Language Lodge. Folklife Categories: Workshop. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Myaamia Peekitahaminki (Lacrosse)
Native Language Reclamation
Learn about peekitahaminki (lacrosse) and try out some basic skills with Myaamia students. One of the oldest sports in North America, and one of the fastest growing today, peekitahaminki is more than just a game but a way for Myaamia students to reconnect with history, culture, and family. Learn how to play by Myaamia rules using Myaamia sticks.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: The Lawn. Folklife Categories: Workshop. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Spam Musubi with Hālau I Ka Leo Ola O Nā Mamo
Native Language Reclamation
Kaluhea Lindsey Asing and Ku‘ulei Ventura show us how to make Spam musubi, a Hawaiian fusion favorite made with nori (dried seaweed), sliced Spam, rice, and furikake (seaweed seasoning).
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Foodways. Online Link: https://www.youtube.com/live/QXp39BsjLaE. Folklife Categories: Foodways. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. ASL-interpreted program. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. All-Day Trades Demonstrations
Building Trades
Throughout the day, see ongoing demonstrations of stone carving, blacksmithing, architectural carpentry, ornamental plastering, stone masonry, woodworking, Appalachian-style log building, decorative painting, preservation joinery, historic brick masonry restoration, wood color matching, and classical architecture and design.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Building Trades Area. Folklife Categories: Demonstration. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 11:00 AM – 5:30 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Tools of the Trade
Building Trades
Join a conversation with stone mason Joe Alonso, preservation carpenter Amy McAuley, and blacksmith Darryl Reeves as they dive into tool talk: knowledge of tools, favorite tools, what makes a tool right for the job, and maybe even stories about personal attachment to tools.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Shop Talk. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Muralism with Artist Evelyn Morán Cojoc
Youth Expressive Culture
Artist Evelyn Morán Cojoc is joined by local art students to create an original mural reflecting her Poqomchi’ Maya heritage and relations to land and place in her homeland of Guatemala: Ir kooch qa K'een Ak'al (Grandmother Earth's Gifts).
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Foodways. Folklife Categories: Demonstration. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 11:00 AM – 5:30 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. All-Day Activities for Kids and Families
Youth Expressive Culture
The Family Activities tent is a place especially for young visitors to play and explore—in addition to the things that kids can try throughout the program demonstration areas. Join in the fun with blocks, games, magnetic poetry, coloring, school spirit banners, and more! The U.S. Copyright Office hosts educational games and creative art activities, too.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Family Activities. Folklife Categories: Workshop. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 11:00 AM – 5:30 PM.
Artisan Demonstrations: Luthiery, Weaving, Saddle Making, and Leather, Silver, and Beadwork
Youth Expressive Culture
The artisans in this program area share artistic traditions and ways of life passed down through apprenticeships, family ties, and community-based programs. Luthiery: The Delgado family from Nashville, Tennessee, shares the construction of traditional stringed instruments used in mariachi and many other musical genres. Weaving: Master weavers and students from the Karen Weaving Circle revitalize their textile tradition from Burma (Myanmar) after resettling as refugees in Minnesota. Saddlery: The Carter family from Pingree, Idaho, demonstrate building Western saddles by hand. Leather, Silver, and Beadwork: The Severe family from Castleford, Idaho, demonstrate a wide range of skills that go into Western crafts or cowboy gear.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Learning Together Area. Folklife Categories: Demonstration. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 11:00 AM – 5:30 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Classical Drumming Showcase with Alliance of Black Orchestral Percussionists
Youth Expressive Culture
By creating strong relationships between protégés and mentors, the Alliance of Black Orchestral Percussionists (ABOP) creates pathways for young Black musicians to become professional classical musicians. Watch this exciting showcase of the many orchestral percussion instruments by the six virtuosi proteges protégés led by director and lead mentor Raynor Carroll.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Festival Main Stage. Folklife Categories: Performance. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Creativity and Sustainability with SAVA
Youth Expressive Culture
Explore lowrider-inspired family activities with Sacramento Academic and Vocational Academy—featuring a custom lowrider photo op and car-themed puzzles. Kids (and kids at heart) can bring lowriders to life with an assortment of coloring pages. Learn how students converted a classic car into an EV lowrider.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Streetwise | Lowriders. Folklife Categories: Workshop. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 11:00 AM – 5:30 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Custom Builds with Olathe Leadership Lowrider Bike Club
Youth Expressive Culture
Watch the students of Olathe Leadership Lowrider Bike Club transform ordinary frames into rolling works of art—complete with twisted chrome, bold paint, and classic lowrider flair. Try your hand at sanding, and get inspired by the power of leadership, teamwork, and hands-on creativity.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Streetwise | Lowriders. Folklife Categories: Demonstration. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 11:00 AM – 5:30 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Family Dance with Caller Adina Gordon and Sugar in the Pan
Youth Expressive Culture
Want to play games and have fun to good music? Come to the family dance! It doesn’t matter if you’re 4 or 54 or 84, you can do these dances and laugh a lot and have a great time. Bring your sense of adventure, your sense of play, and your sense of humor. You’re invited to come have fun! Adina Gordon has been calling dances for over twenty years and takes particular pleasure in introducing new dancers to contra, square, and English country dancing. With a wide repertoire of dances both old and new, she calls dances that cause spontaneous eruptions of joy on dance floors coast to coast.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Beatworks. Folklife Categories: Workshop. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Get Creative with MoCAT
Youth Expressive Culture
MoCAT Bedroom: Posters, Fashion, and Friendship Bracelets
Come into The Bedroom to explore teenage identity, fashion, taste, and expression! The Museum of Contemporary American Teenagers presents rotating hands-on activities, demos, and discussions: Collage posters, Friendship bracelets,
Hands-on activities are limited to ten visitors at a time, first come, first served.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: MoCAT Area. Folklife Categories: Workshop. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 11:00 AM – 5:30 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Introducing: Malcolm Davis
Youth Expressive Culture
Learn about the work of “Affrilachian” storyteller and theatre practitioner Malcolm Davis in this interview conducted by students from the Deanwood youth journalism program.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Wordsmiths’ Cafe. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Kids’ Skate Lessons (Ages 6–12)
Youth Expressive Culture
Skateboarding is a fun physical activity that builds confidence and connection. Lessons are taught by local skating instructors JT and Sir Blair!
Lessons are capped at 10 people, and ages 6 to 12 are prioritized. Please register in advance online. Pre-registration will close at 9 a.m. the day of the lesson.
Please arrive 10 minutes before the lesson time. If you are not there and ready to skate at 11 a.m. your slot may be given to another visitor on a first-come, first-serve basis.
WAIVERS
Parent(s)/guardian(s) must fill and sign a waiver on behalf of their child(ren) and be present during the lesson. You may print the waiver at home, fill it out, and bring it to the lesson, or you can sign one when you arrive. Download the waiver. EQUIPMENT
Skateboards will be provided. Helmets are required; please bring your own safety equipment. A limited supply of helmets and pads will be available.
Registration full? A limited number of spaces may be available if there is a no-show on a first-come, first-serve…
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Streetwise | Skating. Folklife Categories: Demonstration. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Learning in the Family: Saddles and Lowriders
Youth Expressive Culture
Join members of the Carter family of saddle makers and Erazo family of lowrider car and bike makers in a conversation about the heritage skills and community values in their respective traditions.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Olivia Cadaval Story Circle. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. ASL-interpreted program. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Lowrider Art Demonstrations
Youth Expressive Culture
Cruise in for ongoing lowrider-inspired painting and plaque-making demonstrations by visual artist Cecelia Perez and the craftspeople of Indonesian jewelry brand SWEDA. Watch as they turn lowrider dreams into bold, vibrant reality.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Streetwise | Lowriders. Folklife Categories: Demonstration. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 11:00 AM – 5:30 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Open Studio Hours
Youth Expressive Culture
Calling all aspiring musicians and songwriters! Our open-air recording studio on the National Mall is open for collaborations with the help of the mentors and sound engineers at Rebel Song Academy.
Rebel Song Academy is an innovative music camp, a program of the Arts as Mentorship nonprofit. Founder Enrique Chi believes that arts-music mentorship can be a space of healing and social change. Since it started in 2017, the academy has built a network of professional, award-winning musicians who mentor its students. Their curriculum guides participants through their own personal artistic process, building life and career skills as they collaborate through music writing, recording, producing, and promoting. Through Rebel Song Academy, mentees produce music from their own experiences and find their voices within their own heritage.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: New Sounds Lab. Folklife Categories: Workshop. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Skate Arts and Design with Di’Orr Greenwood
Youth Expressive Culture
Diné multidisciplinary artist Di’Orr Greenwood with her team, Brice Bowman and Samuel Bowman, share skate arts like hand-painted and wood-burned skateboard decks, as well as wearable art, traditional handmade flutes, and other objects they create.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Streetwise | Skating. Folklife Categories: Demonstration. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 11:00 AM – 5:30 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Smithsonian Teen Programming
Youth Expressive Culture
Hear how the Smithsonian's youth collaborators are contributing to the mission of the institution in fresh new ways.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: The Classroom. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM.
Guangkuta litnuarlita Alutiit’sun! Let’s Speak Alutiiq!
Native Language Reclamation
Join the Kodiak Alutiiq Dancers to learn greetings and introductions in the Alutiiq language.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Language Lodge. Folklife Categories: Workshop. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Teaching and Learning the Building Arts: Stone Carving
Building Trades
Passing along the skills and knowledge of the traditional building crafts happens in different ways. At the Washington National Cathedral, journeyman and stone mason and carver Brianna Castelli has been learning Gothic-style stonework on the job from longtime stone carvers and masons Sean Callahan and Andy Uhl. In Charleston, South Carolina, stone carving student Tatum Connor is being mentored by Joseph Kincannon, chair of architectural stone carving at the American College of the Building Arts. Join us for this inspiring conversation about teaching and learning the stone carving trade!
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Shop Talk. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Instrument Making: Highlight on Strings
Youth Expressive Culture
Join three different participant groups to hear about instrument making and the relationship between musicians, luthiers, and hand-crafted string instruments.
Vermont Folklife’s Sugar in the Pan band plays traditional music from New England, Québec, Maritime Canada and beyond. These fantastic teenage musicians with the Young Tradition Touring Group offer creative and engaging arrangements for audiences.
Mariachi Tesoro de San Fernando is the performance ensemble of the Mariachi Master Apprenticeship Program (MMAP) based in Los Angeles County. Created in 2001 in collaboration with the late Nati Cano (founder of Mariachi Los Camperos, Smithsonian Folkways recording artists), MMAP has helped develop many generations of mariachi musicians in Southern California by pairing master musicians with community members and youth.
The Delgado family has been making musical instruments entirely by hand for four generations, from their founding in Torreón, Coahuila, Mexico, in 1928. They proudly carry on “old world” tech…
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Music Room. Folklife Categories: Workshop. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM.
Kids’ Skate Arts Activities with Music by DJ Jah Messenger
Youth Expressive Culture
Come to the skate area and get creative with hands-on activities inspired by the designs of skate gear, wearable art, and the creative world of skating! Uplifting tunes will be provided by DJ and comic artist Jah Messenger (Blas Goncalves-Borrega).
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Streetwise | Skating. Folklife Categories: Workshop. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 12:00 PM – 1:45 PM.
Media Arts Workshops: Zines, Cyanotypes, Animation, Videos and Podcasts, Vinyl Painting
Youth Expressive Culture
Every afternoon, join us for ongoing media arts workshops in the north wing of the Arts and Industries Building. No sign-up is required, but workshops are limited to ten participants on a first-come, first-served basis. Activities include:
Zine Making: Self-published zines (pronounced zeen, like magazine) are accessible and affordable forms of self-expression. Use materials here to make your zine, then you can make copies to distribute to friends!
Cyanotype Prints: This workshop will demonstrate the expressive nature of reverse photography using cyanotype—one of the oldest forms of photography in the world. The premise is to take a photograph and invert it to create a negative, then print the photo using cyanotype ink and UV light (or sunshine).
Stop-Motion Animation: Stop-motion is one of the earliest forms of animation, and it’s still being used today! Try your hand at creating your own animation here.
Podcasting: Ever thought about making your own film, podcasting, or being an influencer? Learn how…
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Workshop. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Venue: Arts and Industries Building.
Monday, July 7, 2025, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Plugged In: D.C.-Area Community Resources Fair
Youth Expressive Culture
Want to join something? Looking for a new club or extracurricular activity? Come to the rotunda of the Arts + Industries Building to meet with local organizations that create opportunities for youth, from employment and leadership to the arts and more.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (Rotunda). Folklife Categories: Workshop. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Venue: Arts and Industries Building.
Monday, July 7, 2025, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
Puppet Show: Creativity and Copyright
Youth Expressive Culture
Copyright is all around you! It protects your favorite books, songs, artwork, movies, video games, and so much more. At noon and 3 p.m. enjoy an interactive puppet show that teaches kids about creativity and copyright. Presented by the U.S. Copyright Office.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Family Activities. Folklife Categories: Performance. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 12:00 PM – 12:10 PM.
Soul Classics with Stax Music Academy’s 910 Band
Youth Expressive Culture
The mission of Stax Music Academy is to inspire young people and enhance their academic, cognitive, performance, and leadership skills through music, focusing on the rich legacy of Stax Records. Since 2000, the academy has been igniting the professional careers of musicians including MonoNeon, Amber Robinson, and Evvie McKinney. In addition to providing music performance and music theory training in popular genres such as blues, gospel, rock ’n’ roll, and R&B, Stax teaches music history, business, and leadership, ensuring students can produce their own music and create their own musical paths. The music business is an ever-changing landscape that young musicians must quickly adapt to. Join Pasley Thompson from the Stax Music Academy to talk and learn about the many aspects of having a music career, from licensing and distributing your first album to creating your own brand.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Festival Main Stage. Folklife Categories: Performance. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Sourdough Pancakes
Youth Expressive Culture
The Severe family of Castleford, Idaho, shares the recipes and benefits of the sourdough starter that has been in their family for over thirty years.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Foodways. Online Link: https://www.youtube.com/live/EuwlVxf_QFg. Folklife Categories: Foodways. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. ASL-interpreted program. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM.
Storytelling with David Fakunle and Jada Anderson
Youth Expressive Culture
Storytellers Dr. David Fakunle and Jada Anderson share ancestral stories and wisdom.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Wordsmiths’ Cafe. Folklife Categories: Performance. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Youth and Belonging
Youth Expressive Culture
Students from the Museum of Contemporary American Teenagers (MoCAT) lead a discussion on teenagers’ sense of belonging, based on research from the Global Belonging Collaborative and the Lantern Collective. They will explore what fosters a sense of belonging, as well as draw parallels between different teens’ experiences.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: The Classroom. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM.
Youth Media Mentorship
Youth Expressive Culture
Participants from the Deanwood Broadcast Youth Journalism Program join radio personality Donnie Simpson and local news anchor Allison Seymour for a discussion that explores media mentorship for youth.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Olivia Cadaval Story Circle. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Kaloolitiitaawi! Let’s Speak Together in Easy Myaamia
Native Language Reclamation
Join Myaamia students to learn greetings and introductions in the Myaamia language.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Language Lodge. Folklife Categories: Workshop. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Hula with Hālau I Ka Leo Ola O Nā Mamo
Native Language Reclamation
This performance includes the entire hālau (school) and features hula (dances) and mele (songs) celebrating Ke Aukahi Hoʻōla ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, the Hawaiian Language Revitalization Movement.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Potomac Atrium (NMAI). Folklife Categories: Performance. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Restoring the Smithsonian Castle
Building Trades
The Smithsonian Institution Building, known as the Castle, is the institution’s first home and its symbolic heart. Built in 1855, this National Historic Landmark originally housed all the institution’s operations. Every idea for the growth of the institution began or was first exhibited at the Castle. Last comprehensively renovated in 1968, the Castle is currently closed for extensive interior and exterior restoration. Hear from Smithsonian staff, Carly Bond, associate director of architectural history and historic preservation, and Jamil Burnett, supervisory senior construction manager, and learn about the Castle’s current restoration project involving traditional building trades and extensive stone salvage.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Shop Talk. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. ASL-interpreted program. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Carolinian Stick Dance Traditions from the Northern Mariana Islands
Youth Expressive Culture
Joseph K. Ruak of the Talabwog Man Stick Dancers, a traditional Carolinian dance group in Saipan, an island in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Mark-Kenneth Rogopes, his mentee, discuss their experiences as both students and caretakers of the tradition of the men’s stick dances of Talabwogh or Repaghonur.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Olivia Cadaval Story Circle. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM.
Eats + Beats
Youth Expressive Culture
Eats + Beats is a show where chefs and music producers break bread and chop it up—literally. Featured guests find connection and commonality in how they move from inspiration to execution to final product.
Chef Kim Akers Thomas is the executive chef and owner of Hayward’s Private Chef & Catering. She studied culinary arts at Prince George’s Community College and has experience in food service and hospitality that spans over fifteen years. Throughout her culinary career, Thomas as always volunteered her time with nonprofit organizations such as the DC Central Kitchen and Martha’s Table and will continue to give back to her community.
Special Berriez is a dynamic DJ and live musician with over three years of experience spinning unforgettable sets across the D.C. area. Known for their ability to energize any crowd, Special Berriez has brought the vibe to weddings, private parties, conventions, and even at the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum. Beyond the turntables, Special Berriez co-hosts Ill Street…
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Foodways. Folklife Categories: Foodways. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM.
Hip-Hop Showcase Open Rehearsal: Andes MC, Eber Miranda, and Workshop Participants
Youth Expressive Culture
Carlos Andres Orellana Patiño is a rapper, singer, and songwriter from La Paz, Bolivia. His stage name, Andes MC, reflects his Andean identity. In 2020, he released his first singles, “Sistemas de Control” and “Ser.” He is joined by his mentor, Eber Miranda, an Indigenous hip-hop artist and Aymara language teacher dedicated to uplifting Indigenous communities.
Join Andes MC and Eber Miranda and their workshop participants during their final rehearsal before their showcase at 3 p.m. at Wordsmiths’ Cafe. This rehearsal will feature original compositions created during the 2025 Smithsonian Folklife Festival by visitors and fellow participants with the help of Andes MC and Eber Miranda.
Presenter: Shana Inofuentes.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Music Room. Folklife Categories: Workshop. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Mariachi Tesoro de San Fernando
Youth Expressive Culture
Mariachi Tesoro de San Fernando is the performance ensemble of the Mariachi Master Apprenticeship Program (MMAP) based in Los Angeles County. Created in 2001 in collaboration with the late Nati Cano (founder of Mariachi Los Camperos, Smithsonian Folkways recording artists), MMAP has helped develop many generations of mariachi musicians in Southern California by pairing master musicians with community members and youth. Hear Mariachi Tesoro perform classics from the mariachi repertoire as well as new arrangements on our Festival Main Stage.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Festival Main Stage. Folklife Categories: Performance. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Poetry by National Youth Poet Laureates
Youth Expressive Culture
Join us for a reading with National Youth Poet Laureate Evan Wang (Pennsylvania) and state youth poet laureates Harmony Devoe (Vermont), Emily Hsu (New Jersey), and Elani Spencer (Virginia).
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Wordsmiths’ Cafe. Folklife Categories: Performance. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Teens, Social Media, and Mental Health
Youth Expressive Culture
Join the Museum of Contemporary American Teenagers (MoCAT) for a discussion about the effects of social media on teen mental health and strategies to maintain a healthy relationship with social media. The discussion is led by Miana Bryant, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, a school-based therapist in Prince George’s County Public Schools.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: The Classroom. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. ASL-interpreted program. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Mental Wellbeing as a Kanien’kéha Language Student
Native Language Reclamation
Join an informal discussion on language and wellbeing led by Karonhiióstha Shea Sky.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Language Lodge. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Myaamia Peekitahaminki (Lacrosse)
Native Language Reclamation
Learn about peekitahaminki (lacrosse) and try out some basic skills with Myaamia students. One of the oldest sports in North America, and one of the fastest growing today, peekitahaminki is more than just a game but a way for Myaamia students to reconnect with history, culture, and family. Learn how to play by Myaamia rules using Myaamia sticks.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: The Lawn. Folklife Categories: Workshop. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Generation to Generation: Family Traditions of Craftsmanship – Carpentry and Plastering
Building Trades
Meet artisans descended from a long line of tradition bearers. Third-generation master carpenter Markus Damwerth, the chair of architectural carpentry at the American College of the Building Arts, has been working with wood his entire life, learning the trade from his father and grandfather in Germany before going on to attend a rigorous German apprenticeship program. Master plasterer Jeffrey Poree is a fifth-generation master plasterer from New Orleans’ Seventh Ward who proudly carries forward his family’s legacy of fine craftsmanship. Poree’s apprentice, Will Holmes, is following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Shop Talk. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Carrying Culture through Migration with the Karen Weaving Circle
Youth Expressive Culture
Senior weavers and young learners from the Karen Weaving Circle share how they are revitalizing their textile heritage after resettling in the United States as refugees from Burma (Myanmar) in Southeast Asia. The Karen Weaving Circle is a program of the Karen Organization of Minnesota.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Olivia Cadaval Story Circle. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Green Chicken Enchiladas
Youth Expressive Culture
Representing lowrider culture in Sacramento, California, at the Festival, the Rodriguez family prepares their delicious and simple green chicken enchiladas.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Foodways. Folklife Categories: Foodways. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM.
MoCAT Bathroom: Ceramics Workshop
Youth Expressive Culture
Celebrate teen art making and join in a hands-on clay sculpture activity, suitable for older kids and teens. Participation in this workshop is limited to ten visitors at a time—first come, first served.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: MoCAT Area. Folklife Categories: Workshop. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Poetry by Pennsylvania State Youth Poet Laureate
Youth Expressive Culture
Join us for a discussion of poetry and craft with the 2016 Pennsylvania State Youth Poet Laureate, David Jones.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Wordsmiths’ Cafe. Folklife Categories: Performance. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM.
Popcorn Songwriting with Rebel Song Academy
Youth Expressive Culture
Rebel Song Academy is an innovative music camp that guides participants through their own personal artistic process, building life and career skills as they collaborate through music writing, recording, producing, and promoting. Through Rebel Song Academy, mentees produce music from their own experiences and find their voices within their own heritage.
Join Rebel Song Academy for a special residency at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. In this workshop, visitors can join in the communal creative process of writing a pop song. We encourage you to bring your instruments, however, they are not required. All levels of music experience are welcome.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Music Room. Folklife Categories: Workshop. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Short Films from the 2025 Montgomery County Youth Media Festival
Youth Expressive Culture
Enjoy a screening of shorts from the Montgomery County Youth Media Festival, which celebrates youth voices in the media arts industry in the D.C. region. The annual festival promotes the creativity and impact of young filmmakers and artists as it showcases youth talent, highlights social issues, and inspires positive action. Accessibility note: While the films in this session are subtitled or open captioned, introductions prior and discussions after may not be captioned.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Folklife Categories: Film. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected). Venue: Arts and Industries Building.
Monday, July 7, 2025, 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Silver Pendant Making Demonstration
Youth Expressive Culture
Learn about traditional silver craftsmanship as the artists of Indonesian jewelry brand SWEDA demonstrate intricate pendant-making techniques and artistry. Each day, these demonstrations feature an exchange with guest artists of other creative disciplines.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Streetwise | Lowriders. Folklife Categories: Demonstration. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Smithsonian Teen Programming
Youth Expressive Culture
Hear how the Smithsonian's youth collaborators are contributing to the mission of the institution in fresh new ways.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: The Classroom. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM.
Tunes from New England and Beyond with Sugar in the Pan
Youth Expressive Culture
Vermont Folklife’s Sugar in the Pan band plays traditional music from New England, Québec, Maritime Canada, and beyond, featuring lively tunes that will have folks of all ages up and dancing! These fantastic teenage musicians with the Young Tradition Touring Group offer creative and engaging arrangements for audiences.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Festival Main Stage. Online Link: https://www.youtube.com/live/I6GcblnUkSs. Folklife Categories: Performance. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Captioning. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Corn Mush with Ionkwahronkha’onhátie’
Native Language Reclamation
Wishe Brant and Caira Karihwenhá:wi Nicholas show us how to make corn mush, a Kanien’kehá:ke (Mohawk) staple made of corn washed in ash water and then dried and crushed into flour. They will demontrate washing the corn and making the corn mush, highlighting the cultural importance of corn and its journey from kernel to table.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Foodways. Online Link: https://www.youtube.com/live/7TnCLynCgFw. Folklife Categories: Foodways. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Captioning. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Growing Up in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi
Native Language Reclamation
Join an informal discussion on growing up immersed in Hawaiian culture and language, led by Kaumuali‘i Harman.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Language Lodge. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Kodiak Alutiiq Dancers
Native Language Reclamation
Watch the Kodiak Alutiiq Dancers from Alaska perform traditional and new songs and dances.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Potomac Atrium (NMAI). Folklife Categories: Performance. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Myaamia Miincipi (Corn) Restoration and Meaning
Native Language Reclamation
Learn from Kara Strass about Myaamia miincipi, a unique variety of corn that Myaamia have preserved for centuries.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Gifts from the Land. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Appalachian Log Building: Traditional Tools and Techniques
Building Trades
How does one go about building an Appalachian-style log building? Hear from the National Park Service Historic Preservation Training Center’s director Moss Rudley and preservationist Mike Turner, as well as Stephen T. Mather Building Arts & Craftsmanship High School students Omarion Thompson and Tyrone Vick as they explain their traditional tools and techniques.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Shop Talk. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Andean Hip-Hop with Andes MC and Eber Miranda
Youth Expressive Culture
Andes MC and Eber Miranda from Bolivia perform rap music in Aymara, Quechua, and Spanish.
Presenter: Shana Inofuentes.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Wordsmiths’ Cafe. Folklife Categories: Performance. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Family Drumming Workshop with ABOP
Youth Expressive Culture
By creating strong relationships between protégés and mentors, the Alliance of Black Orchestral Percussionists creates pathways for young Black musicians to become professional classical musicians.
Come join their six virtuosi protégés in a drumming workshop for participants of all ages. Drums will be provided, first come, first served.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Beatworks. Folklife Categories: Workshop. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Finding the Value of Music Education
Youth Expressive Culture
Join Isaac Daniel (Stax Music Academy director), Enrique Chi (Arts as Mentorship director) and Checo Alonson (Mariachi Tesoro instructor) to talk about the importance of youth music education and its importance and more. We will be asking questions such as: why is youth music education valuable for society, and why is it pertinent for today’s global context?
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Music Room. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Kids’ Skate Lessons (Ages 6–17)
Youth Expressive Culture
Skateboarding is a fun physical activity that builds confidence and connection. Lessons are taught by local skating instructors JT and Sir Blair!
Lessons are capped at 10 people, and ages 6 to 17 are prioritized. Please register in advance online. Pre-registration will close at 9 a.m. the day of the lesson.
Please arrive 10 minutes before the lesson time. If you are not there and ready to skate at 11 a.m. your slot may be given to another visitor on a first-come, first-serve basis.
WAIVERS
Parent(s)/guardian(s) must fill and sign a waiver on behalf of their child(ren) and be present during the lesson. You may print the waiver at home, fill it out, and bring it to the lesson, or you can sign one when you arrive. Download the waiver. EQUIPMENT
Skateboards will be provided. Helmets are required; please bring your own safety equipment. A limited supply of helmets and pads will be available.
Registration full? A limited number of spaces may be available if there is a no-show on a first-come, first-serve…
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Streetwise | Skating. Folklife Categories: Demonstration. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Library of Congress Youth Archives Challenge 2025
Youth Expressive Culture
Through the Archive Challenge, the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress encourages musicians, singers, and other artists to explore its archive and get creative with what they find. Since 2015, AFC has helped artists find a song or piece of music they love so they can put their own stamp on it with a new arrangement or interpretation—and then perform it in a live setting or on a recording.
The Archive of Folk Culture, located within the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, is the largest ethnographic archive in the world, containing treasures for everyone to explore.
Schedule:
3 p.m.: Hungarian Folk Dance with Leó Demeter Qualls and Anna (Panni) De Cheke
3:30 p.m.: Bulgarian Folk Music with Balkan Soul Band (Yana Kirilova, Stanley Kirilov, and Kalin Kirilov)
Presenters: Jennifer Cutting and Stephen Winick, Folklife Specialists, American Folklife Center.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Festival Main Stage. Folklife Categories: Performance. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM.
For more info visit blogs.loc.gov. Multimodal Storytelling
Youth Expressive Culture
Visual and oral storytellers discuss how they bring stories to life.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required). Venue: Arts and Industries Building.
Monday, July 7, 2025, 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Puppet Show: Creativity and Copyright
Youth Expressive Culture
Copyright is all around you! It protects your favorite books, songs, artwork, movies, video games, and so much more. At noon and 3 p.m. enjoy an interactive puppet show that teaches kids about creativity and copyright. Presented by the U.S. Copyright Office.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Family Activities. Folklife Categories: Performance. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 3:00 PM – 3:10 PM.
The Green Bandana Project
Youth Expressive Culture
Join the Museum of Contemporary American Teenagers (MoCAT) for a presentation and discussion with Sophie Ecker, founder of Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School’s chapter of the Green Bandana Project, a nationwide mental-health awareness and suicide prevention group which focuses on providing resources for students to destigmatize asking for help.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: The Classroom. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. ASL-interpreted program. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Community Skateboarding Session with Music by DJ Aldo Andres
Youth Expressive Culture
To end the Festival day, the community skate session offers a great way for people of all ages and skill levels to connect, learn, and enjoy skateboarding in a supportive environment. Enjoy music selections by DJ Aldo Andres.
*Please note that lessons will not be provided during these sessions. We ask those of all skill levels to be respectful of the space and aware of their surroundings.
*A signed waiver is required to skate. You can bring a signed copy or sign it when you arrive. Please arrive between 3:30 and 4 p.m. to sign your waiver. Any skater under 18 must have a parent or guardian present to sign a waiver. Download the waiver. Schedule:
3:30 p.m.: Music starts
4–5 p.m.: Public skate.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Streetwise | Skating. Folklife Categories: Performance. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Closing Discussion: Changing the Narrative
Native Language Reclamation
Join our final discussion on the future of Native American languages, led by Taiawentón:ti’ Chelsea Sunday.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Language Lodge. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Making Matters: Voices of Next Generation Artisans
Building Trades
What motivates young people to get involved in the traditional building arts? Why does quality craftsmanship matter, and how are these skills learned? Hear from American College of the Building Arts student Thomas Dezii and New Orleans Master Crafts Guild apprentice blacksmith Karina Roca about the experiences that are preparing them for careers working with their hands and making a difference.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Shop Talk. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Founding the Group You Need
Youth Expressive Culture
Join a conversation with Affrilachian storyteller and oral history performer Malcolm Davis and Max Selby of the WXOX ArtxFM radio team. Participants will share how they created the organizations they wanted to see and reshaped the cultural landscape in their home state of Kentucky.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Olivia Cadaval Story Circle. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM.
Idaho Biscuits and Gravy
Youth Expressive Culture
In this hands-on cooking demonstration, members of the Carter family from Idaho share their recipe for fluffy biscuits and rich sausage gravy.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Foodways. Folklife Categories: Foodways. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM.
Los Locos
Youth Expressive Culture
Los Locos is a musicalized poetry project that blends cumbia, rock, and jazz to explore themes of immigration, identity, and latinidad. Using a wide range of Latin American rhythms, Los Locos brings poetry into spaces where it’s rarely found—from street corners to music stages and cultural gatherings. Unapologetic and unfiltered, Los Locos breaks open the space between music and poetry, daring audiences to keep up.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: The Classroom. Folklife Categories: Performance. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM.
MoCAT Bathroom: Graffiti Time
Youth Expressive Culture
Grab a Sharpie and join the conversation on the walls of the Bathroom! We invite you to bring positive messages and creativity to the age-old tradition of marking on the bathroom walls.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: MoCAT Area. Folklife Categories: Workshop. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM.
For more info visit festival.si.edu. Talent Show
Special Events
As we close out the 2025 Smithsonian Folklife Festival, we invite you to attend this intimate farewell concert which will include music, dance, storytelling, poetry, and much more. It’s your last chance to experience the talent and wisdom of our performers and participants, as well as a chance for them to say goodbye to each other and our audience.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Festival Main Stage. Folklife Categories: Performance. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. ASL-interpreted program. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM.
Folklife Coffeehouse
Youth Expressive Culture
Stop by the Foodways stage for a chance at a small drink sampling, food poetry, and the flavorful sounds of DJ Mojo to close out daytime festival programming.
Program: Youth and the Future of Culture. Stage: Foodways. Folklife Categories: Foodways. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required).
Monday, July 7, 2025, 5:00 PM – 5:30 PM.