Smithsonian Folklife Festival

smithsonian, folklife, festival

Washington, DC — Eastern Time

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Sing Democracy 250 Signature Concert

Additional Programs Sing Democracy 250 is a stirring musical odyssey commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, with performances by choirs across the United States in 2026. Through exciting new music, the performance brings people together to reflect on American history and our responsibilities to each other and our country. Sing Democracy 250 believes that music holds the power to transcend divisions, affirm diversity, and inspire hope and harmony for our nation, so that our democracy is not just remembered but renewed for the next 250 years. The power of democracy is in the voice of its people, and every voice matters. This concert will feature Together In Hope Choir, the Congressional Chorus, the National Children's Chorus - Scholars Washington, D.C. and the Main Line Symphony Orchestra, with a cameo appearance by Denyce Graves. Tickets are available for purchase. Accessibility: DAR Constitution Hall offers wheelchair accessible seating and assistive listening services for this event. ASL… Stage: DAR Constitution Hall. Folklife Categories: Performance. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Large print. Assisted listening devices. ASL-interpreted program. Saturday, June 13, 2026, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM. For more info visit www.singdemocracy250.org.

Folklife Marketplace Open Hours

Folklife Marketplace Shop, make, and connect in the Smithsonian Folklife Marketplace! This pop-up market brings together artists and makers from across the United States in a living expression of craft, creativity, and community. You’ll find products from U.S.-based artists and makers—from Louisiana-grown Acadian cotton bags and bandanas printed in Tucson to specialty syrups crafted in the Ozarks, plus 250th commemorative merchandise. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Pop-up Shop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required). Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. For more info visit festival.si.edu.

Latin Music Fans: Making Culture & Keeping Tradition

For the Common Good Join a music-filled conversation about the current resurgence of salsa, the role of DJs and radio hosts in circulating musical knowledge, and music’s capacity to build community and recover history. You’ll hear from Pablo Yglesias (DJ Bongohead) and Ranald Woodaman, assistant director of exhibition development at the National Museum of the American Latino and lead curator of its new exhibition, ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa. ASL interpretation and live captioning will be available both in person and on the livestream video. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://youtube.com/live/_XOj8hwVdI8?feature=share. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected). Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM. For more info visit latino.si.edu.

Notes on “Our Shared Future 250”

For the Common Good What does the U.S. semiquincentennial mean to the Smithsonian? What role do its researchers, educators, archivists, security staff, and others play in advancing the country’s ideals and aspirations? A captivating answer can be found in the Smithsonian’s major initiative Our Shared Future: 250, a national invitation to reflect on the past, engage with the present, and imagine the future together. Join Lisa Sasaki, Smithsonian Deputy Under Secretary for Special Projects, and Julissa Marenco, Assistant Secretary for Communications and External Affairs and Chief Marketing Officer, in a wide-ranging conversation about the process of organizing a large-scale effort, what this work says about the Smithsonian’s own aspirations and connections to community, and what the next 250 years of outreach, education, and engagement at the Smithsonian might bring. Smithsonian Folklife Festival director Sabrina Lynn Motley will moderate. ASL interpretation and live captioning will be available both in person and on the… Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://youtube.com/live/Ij7KtjY5yi4?feature=share. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected). Tuesday, June 16, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit www.si.edu.

Folklife Marketplace Open Hours

Folklife Marketplace Shop, make, and connect in the Smithsonian Folklife Marketplace! This pop-up market and brings together artists and makers from across the United States in a living expression of craft, creativity, and community. You’ll find products from U.S.-based artists and makers—from Louisiana-grown Acadian cotton bags and bandanas printed in Tucson to specialty syrups crafted in the Ozarks, plus 250th commemorative merchandise. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Pop-up Shop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required). Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. For more info visit festival.si.edu.

Science in the City: A Conversation with the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

For the Common Good Science in the City brings together senior scientists from the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, based in Edgewater, Maryland, to discuss how coastal research on water systems, trees, and wildlife connects directly to life in our cities. Join Katrina Lohan, senior scientist and principal investigator of the Coastal Disease Ecology Lab; Rebecca Hale, senior scientist and principal investigator of the Coastal Disease Ecology Lab; and Roy Rich, senior scientist and principal investigator of the Technology in Ecology Lab as they share insights on parasites, urban watersheds, and animal responses to environmental change—and why these findings matter for human health, urban design, and resilient communities. Internship and fellowship coordinator Heather Richardson will moderate. ASL interpretation and live captioning will be available both in person and on the livestream video. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://youtube.com/live/Y2L5MUE46Qw?feature=share. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected). Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM. For more info visit serc.si.edu.

Registrars 101

For the Common Good Often out of public view, registration is an integral cornerstone in the care of museum collections objects. Through loans, donations, purchases, bequests, field collecting, and more, objects come into the custody and care of the Smithsonian. Registrars handle logistics, agreements, data, and legal records associated with all objects coming in and out of the museum. Through stewarding data, handling insurance, coordinating shipping, and navigating a whole host of odd problems, registrars help preserve history for the common good. This conversation features Erik Satrum, chief registrar at the National Air and Space Museum; Andrea Jain, head registrar at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden; and Emily Conforto, associate registrar for exhibitions and loans at the National Museum of Natural History. These Smithsonian experts will explain the important work that they do, the incredible collections they work with on a daily basis, and some of the odder problems they have had to solve. From spacesuits to huge… Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://youtube.com/live/yN-90bEyrpA?feature=share. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected). Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit siarchives.si.edu.

Foraging Wild Food through the Seasons with Eating the Ozarks

Folklife Marketplace This worktalk, guided by instructor Rachael West, explores how to forage responsibly and confidently throughout the year, focusing on seasonal cycles and the edible plants that emerge in each phase. Participants will learn to identify common, safe-to-harvest wild foods such as greens, berries, roots, and flowers, while gaining an understanding of plant life cycles, habitats, and ethical harvesting practices. We’ll discuss how to integrate wild foods into everyday meals, as well as how to build a deeper relationship with the land through observation and seasonal awareness. The worktalk is perfect for beginners and those looking to deepen their connection to place. West is the owner, lead instructor, and founder of Eating the Ozarks, which offers foraging classes, wild-infused meals, and special event catering in southwest Missouri. Advance registration is required for this paid session. , Accessibility: Auto-generated captions will be available for this workshop through the Zoom platform. If you require… Stage: Online. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Captioning. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM. For more info visit www.eventbrite.com.

Folklife Marketplace Open Hours

Folklife Marketplace Shop, make, and connect in the Smithsonian Folklife Marketplace! This pop-up market and brings together artists and makers from across the United States in a living expression of craft, creativity, and community. You’ll find products from U.S.-based artists and makers—from Louisiana-grown Acadian cotton bags and bandanas printed in Tucson to specialty syrups crafted in the Ozarks, plus 250th commemorative merchandise. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Pop-up Shop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required). Thursday, June 18, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. For more info visit festival.si.edu.

What a Dream Can Do: Celebrating Ten Years of the National Museum of African American History and Culture

For the Common Good During the dedication of the National Museum of African American History and Culture on September 24, 2016, Congressman John Lewis declared, “Oh, say! What a dream can do!” To celebrate the museum’s tenth anniversary in 2026, What a Dream Can Do: Building a Collection, Preserving a Legacy, the NMAAHC’s first full-size collection book will be published this fall. This publication captures Lewis’s dream through a look at how select objects made their way into the permanent collection that grew from nearly 35,000 objects leading up to the opening to more than 46,000 objects today. Containing essays by forty-five current and former museum staff, as well as a preface by Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III, the publication features visual art, photography and film, multimedia works, and historic objects from the seventeenth century to the present. To learn more about this anniversary volume and the behind-the-scenes work involved in building a collection that helps tell the story of the African American… Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://www.youtube.com/live/N0pERV7P9fc. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected). Thursday, June 18, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM. For more info visit nmaahc.si.edu.

The Promise of a Nation: Essays on 250 Years of American History

For the Common Good Published this spring by Smithsonian Books, The Promise of a Nation explores 250 years of American history through twenty-six vignettes by Smithsonian scholars and more than 600 objects from the national collection. Through the lenses of patriotism, resilience, and aspirations, the book encourages audiences to contemplate possibilities for the future by contemplating the past and present. Taking a decade-by-decade approach from the 1770s to the 2020s, content experts help to animate collectively relevant themes by personalizing the country’s history. The Promise of a Nation reflects on how people, events, and objects have shaped the national identity. In this conversation, editorial committee chair Tasha Coleman, senior content coordinator Jim Deutsch, and chapter authors Sojin Kim (Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage) and Andrew Meade McGee (National Air and Space Museum) highlight key themes, surprising discoveries from the research process, and what the book reveals about the Smithsonian’s enduring… Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://youtube.com/live/H5GAa1OYG7Y?feature=share. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected). Thursday, June 18, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit www.smithsonianbooks.com.

Alfombra Installation with Ubaldo Sánchez

Folklife Marketplace Look up, look down! The stunning architecture of the Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building is the canvas for Ubaldo A. Sánchez’s new site-specific installation. Working on the flat surface of the tile floor, Sánchez creates an alfombra (carpet) out of carefully layered sawdust, florals, and other materials. He, along with his assistants, provides interpretation and insight for visitors, sharing the significance of the sawdust carpet as they demonstrate this unique artistic tradition. From a family of artists from Concepcion Chiquirichapa, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, he explores the rich art and culture of the Maya of Guatemala here in the United States through his artwork. His work also includes sculpture, painted pottery and gourds, murals, silk-screen printing, and painting. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Demonstration. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Friday, June 19, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM.

Folklife Marketplace Open Hours

Folklife Marketplace Shop, make, and connect in the Smithsonian Folklife Marketplace! This pop-up market and brings together artists and makers from across the United States in a living expression of craft, creativity, and community. You’ll find products from U.S.-based artists and makers—from Louisiana-grown Acadian cotton bags and bandanas printed in Tucson to specialty syrups crafted in the Ozarks, plus 250th commemorative merchandise. Accessibility: ASL interpretation will be available upon request from 5 to 8 p.m. and provided as available. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Pop-up Shop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required). Friday, June 19, 2026, 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM. For more info visit festival.si.edu.

Everyday Herbalism and Modern-Day Pickling

Juneteenth Explore the cultural significance of herbs and preserve traditions in this hands-on workshop with Derek Thomas and Madea Allen of Organic Soul Chef Community Garden. Participants will learn about the role of herbalism and tinctures in the African American experience, examine the rise of fresh pickling compared to traditional methods, and gain practical skills by creating herb-infused vinegars, making tinctures, and pickling fresh vegetables to take home. Stage: Anacostia Community Museum (Community Garden). Folklife Categories: Workshop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Friday, June 19, 2026, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM. For more info visit www.eventbrite.com.

Main Stage Performances

Juneteenth Host for the Day, Sir Harvey Fitz—Washington, D.C.-area “curator of cultural awesomeness” and a multifaceted creative artist, including roles as a poet, photographer, and producer 12–1 p.m. and between bands, DJ Heat—Washington, D.C.-based DJ and official arena DJ for the NBA’s Washington Wizards, WNBA’s Washington Mystics, and the DC Defenders 1–1:50 p.m. Playback Theater—Interactive performances with a full cast of professional actors, musicians, and storytellers 2–3 p.m. Black Alley Band—Prominent Washington, D.C.-based band known for pioneering “hood rock” or “soul garage”—a unique fusion of go-go, trap, rock, funk, and soul, led by vocalist Kacey Williams 3:30–4:10 p.m. Autumn LaBella—A music producer, percussionist, vocalist and emcee who oozes warm melodies 4:30–5:30 p.m. IDK with Critical Condition Band—IDK (an acronym for “Ignorantly Delivering Knowledge”) is a rapper, singer, and producer based in Maryland, known for conceptual projects, personal storytelling, and a conscious rapping style… Stage: Anacostia Community Museum (Main Stage). Folklife Categories: Performance. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected). Friday, June 19, 2026, 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM. For more info visit www.eventbrite.com.

Rooted Recipes

Juneteenth Celebrate the rich tapestry of culinary heritage in this interactive recipe exchange. Participants are invited to leave a recipe and take a recipe, sharing personal or family dishes that carry cultural significance and stories of resilience, migration, and tradition. Through storytelling, conversation, and communal reflection, explore how food preserves history, connects generations, and shape's identity. Come honor your roots and walk away with new flavors and stories to pass down. Grab recipes from Smithsonian staff members and Juneteenth talent. Stage: Anacostia Community Museum (Plaza). Folklife Categories: Demonstration. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Friday, June 19, 2026, 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM. For more info visit www.eventbrite.com.

The Art of Roller Skating: “Style” Roller Skating as American Folk Art

Juneteenth The art of roller skating positions Black roller skating as a vibrant American folk art tradition, deeply rooted in regional innovation and intergenerational kinship networks. This session draws from the National African American Roller Skate Archive to present a compelling mix of historical research, archival images, cultural analysis, and short-form documentary footage. Central to the presentation is “Style,” a tempo-based genre of roller skating created and sustained by Black skaters across distinct regional communities. Tasha Klusmann, founder of the National African American Roller Skate Archive, moderates the conversation. Stage: Anacostia Community Museum (Program Room). Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required). Friday, June 19, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM. For more info visit www.eventbrite.com.

Introduction to Bookbinding: The Sewn Softcover Book

Folklife Marketplace Explore the art and structure of the handmade book in this introductory workshop with local creative Amaal Younes. Participants are introduced to the history of bookbinding, basic terminology, tools, materials, and the techniques of creating a softcover exposed spine book, one of the oldest binding techniques. This workshop invites participants into bookbinding as both skill and slow practice—an encounter with paper, thread, and the handmade book as a vessel for memory and making. Advance registration is required for this paid workshop. , Accessibility: We strive to create an accessible and inclusive environment for all visitors. If you require accessibility supports such as ASL interpretation, captioning, audio description, or other services, you can indicate that request on the order form. To allow for provider scheduling, please make requests no later than ten days prior to the workshop date. Please direct any other accessibility questions to NuttingD@si.edu with the subject line “Marketplace… Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Workshop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Friday, June 19, 2026, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit www.eventbrite.com.

Bison: The National Mammal at the National Museum

For the Common Good What animal weighs up to a ton, can measure six feet tall, can jump over a fence over six feet high, and likes to wallow in the dust? Bison! The bison, or American buffalo, was designated as the U.S. National Mammal in 2016. From its earliest days, the Smithsonian has helped lead the efforts to conserve the bison and celebrate its relationship with our nation’s people, cultures, history, and lands. We carry on these efforts to this day. From cultural objects inspired by the buffalo at the National Museum of the American Indian to conservation efforts of the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and the National Museum of Natural History’s recent installation of magnificent bronze bison sculptures on the National Mall and opening its Bison: Standing Strong exhibition, research and interpretation of our national mammal cuts across genres, disciplines, and historical eras. Join Kirk Johnson, Sant director of the National Museum of Natural History; Emil Her Many Horses, curator at the National Museum of… Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://youtube.com/live/btFcroD5GUc?feature=share. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected). Friday, June 19, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM. For more info visit naturalhistory.si.edu.

What’s Cracking: History and Culture of the Black Community and Shellfish

Juneteenth Explore the deep-rooted connection between Black communities and the shellfish culture of the Chesapeake Bay and beyond. This fireside chat dives into the untold history of how African Americans shaped the shellfish industry while working the waterways, innovating culinary techniques, and turning the blue crab and oyster into a beloved symbol of celebration and regional pride. Through storytelling, historical context and food tradition, this talk highlights the economic, cultural, and social impacts of shellfish in Black history and how it continues to influence cuisine today. Speakers: Ricardo Brannum, owner, Who Wants Smoke Charbroiled Oyster Imani Black, founder, Minorities in Aquaculture Adrian Miller, James Beard Award-winning author (moderator). Stage: Anacostia Community Museum (Program Room). Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required). Friday, June 19, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM. For more info visit www.eventbrite.com.

Growing Tomorrow: Developing a Mall-Wide Garden Exhibition

For the Common Good Are you curious about foraging for food, or would you like to have fun with fungi? Check out the new Smithsonian Gardens exhibition, Growing Tomorrow, featuring nine individual exhibits throughout the gardens around the National Mall. The exhibition explores the common bonds we share with gardens and the natural world while highlighting ways that we can grow a better future. Join Smithsonian Gardens staff Rebbeca Martin, associate director of collections, programs, and engagement; Virginia Thaxton, interior horticulturist; and Lauren Brandes, landscape architect, along with Smithsonian Folklife Festival technical director Tyler Nelson to explore the process of Growing Tomorrow, focusing on understanding the full scope of planning an exhibition spanning the National Mall—from early concepts to coordination with stakeholders and logistical constraints. ASL interpretation and live captioning will be available both in person and on the livestream video. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://youtube.com/live/MWnYYpYw7k4?feature=share. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected). Friday, June 19, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit gardens.si.edu.

Imagination Station

Juneteenth Enjoy facepainting and airbrushed tattoos for the youth and those young at heart. Stage: Anacostia Community Museum. Folklife Categories: Demonstration. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required). Friday, June 19, 2026, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM. For more info visit www.eventbrite.com.

“We Hold These Truths” with Smithsonian Folklife

Juneteenth Stage: Anacostia Community Museum (Program Room). Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Friday, June 19, 2026, 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM. For more info visit www.eventbrite.com.

Alfombra Installation with Ubaldo Sánchez

Folklife Marketplace Look up, look down! The stunning architecture of the Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building is the canvas for Ubaldo A. Sánchez’s new site-specific installation. Working on the flat surface of the tile floor, Sánchez creates an alfombra (carpet) out of carefully layered sawdust, florals, and other materials. He, along with his assistants, provides interpretation and insight for visitors, sharing the significance of the sawdust carpet as they demonstrate this unique artistic tradition. From a family of artists from Concepcion Chiquirichapa, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, he explores the rich art and culture of the Maya of Guatemala here in the United States through his artwork. His work also includes sculpture, painted pottery and gourds, murals, silk-screen printing, and painting. Accessibility: ASL interpretation will be available upon request from 5 to 8 p.m. and provided as available. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Demonstration. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Friday, June 19, 2026, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM.

Papel Picado Drop-in Workshop with David Amoroso

Folklife Marketplace Drop in to learn about the Mexican tradition of papel picado with local artist David Amoroso. Transform a flat piece of paper into a colorful miniature strand of intricately cut paper. Children and adults can work side by side on their own projects. Accessibility: ASL interpretation will be available upon request from 5 to 8 p.m. and provided as available. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Workshop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Friday, June 19, 2026, 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM.

Late Skate with DJ B Sharp

Juneteenth Glide into the night at the Juneteenth Late Skate! After the Main Stage winds down, the celebration keeps rolling with a high-energy skating experience in the parking lot. Under the evening sky, DJ B Sharp spins the perfect soundtrack for a vibrant, feel-good vibe. Stage: Anacostia Community Museum. Folklife Categories: Performance. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required). Friday, June 19, 2026, 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM. For more info visit www.eventbrite.com.

These Truths: My Community, Our Story

Juneteenth Local poets Khadijah Ali-Coleman, Colie Aziza, and Dwayne Lawson Brown explore themes of placemaking and community identity, and the role of gatherings, such as Juneteenth, in people’s lives. Co-presented with Planet Word. Stage: Anacostia Community Museum (Program Room). Folklife Categories: Performance. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected). Friday, June 19, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM. For more info visit www.eventbrite.com.

Folklife Marketplace Open Hours

Folklife Marketplace Shop, make, and connect in the Smithsonian Folklife Marketplace! This pop-up market and brings together artists and makers from across the United States in a living expression of craft, creativity, and community. You’ll find products from U.S.-based artists and makers—from Louisiana-grown Acadian cotton bags and bandanas printed in Tucson to specialty syrups crafted in the Ozarks, plus 250th commemorative merchandise. Accessibility: ASL interpretation will be available from 2 to 4 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m. upon request and provided as available. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Pop-up Shop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required). Saturday, June 20, 2026, 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM. For more info visit festival.si.edu.

Pocket Basket Weaving Workshop with Lori Schue

Folklife Marketplace Create a beautiful pocket basket with master basket weaver Lori VanKirk Schue. We will discuss various materials suitable for basket weaving and learn some history of basketry to better understand the versatility of this craft. Learn the proper way to prepare materials and use tools to create this one-of-a-kind basket. Weavers of all skill levels are welcome to this class; this workshop is recommended for ages fifteen and up. Advance registration is required for this paid workshop. Accessibility: We strive to create an accessible and inclusive environment for all visitors. If you require accessibility supports such as ASL interpretation, captioning, audio description, or other services, you can indicate that request on the order form. To allow for provider scheduling, please make requests no later than ten days prior to the workshop date. Please direct any other accessibility questions to NuttingD@si.edu with the subject line “Marketplace Workshop Accessibility.”. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Workshop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Saturday, June 20, 2026, 10:15 AM – 1:15 PM. For more info visit www.eventbrite.com.

The Kids Are Alright: Youth Voices Leading the Future of Museums

For the Common Good How is the Smithsonian engaging the next generation to explore the worlds of art, history, and science? In this session, learn about dynamic in‑ and out‑of‑school youth programs that spark curiosity, foster civic engagement, and empower young people through museum collections and experiences. Join Kelly Harro, manager of gallery programs at the National Air and Space Museum; Sahtiya Hosoda Hammell, education specialist at the National Portrait Gallery; Megan Linehan, education specialist at the National Museum of American History; and Kirsten McNally, manager of teen programs at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, for a conversation about youth empowerment, developing teen programs, and the ways young people are helping to shape the Smithsonian’s future. ASL interpretation and live captioning will be available both in person and on the livestream video. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://youtube.com/live/gbKJK_DkK4A?feature=share. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected). Saturday, June 20, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.

¡Puro Ritmo! Music, Participation, and Community

For the Common Good Join a discussion led by staff from the National Museum of the American Latino around the possibilities for audience engagement and community building unleashed by its latest exhibition, ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa. Participants include Ranald Woodaman, assistant director of exhibition development and lead curator of the exhibition; Natalia Febo, community engagement and volunteer coordinator; and museum collaborator Dan Ramirez, Hyattsville Branch Library manager. ASL interpretation and live captioning will be available both in person and on the livestream video. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://youtube.com/live/EfZFTP8qwVA?feature=share. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected). Saturday, June 20, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit latino.si.edu.

Alfombra Drop-in Workshop with Ubaldo Sánchez

Folklife Marketplace Look up, look down! The stunning architecture of the Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building is the canvas for Ubaldo A. Sánchez’s new site-specific installation. Come see the stunning sawdust alfombra (carpet) meticulously installed on the flat surface of the tile floor, made out of sawdust, florals, and other materials. Ask questions about this beautiful tradition, and try your hand it making your own mini alfombra! This workshop offers visitors a unique chance to participate in the creation of their own mini alfombra. During this hands-on activity, participants design a small sawdust carpet as a tabletop or floor-based project. After taking photos to capture your unique creations, sweep away your mini alfombra, echoing the tradition of fleeting beauty and communal participation by making room for others in the community to make their own alfombra. Accessibility: ASL interpretation will be available upon request and provided as available. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Workshop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Saturday, June 20, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM.

Alfombra Drop-in Workshop with Ubaldo Sánchez

Folklife Marketplace Look up, look down! The stunning architecture of the Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building is the canvas for Ubaldo A. Sánchez’s new site-specific installation. Come see the stunning sawdust alfombra (carpet) meticulously installed on the flat surface of the tile floor, made out of sawdust, florals, and other materials. Ask questions about this beautiful tradition, and try your hand it making your own mini alfombra! This workshop offers visitors a unique chance to participate in the creation of their own mini alfombra. During this hands-on activity, participants design a small sawdust carpet as a tabletop or floor-based project. After taking photos to capture your unique creations, sweep away your mini alfombra, echoing the tradition of fleeting beauty and communal participation by making room for others in the community to make their own alfombra. Accessibility: ASL interpretation will be available upon request and provided as available. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Workshop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Saturday, June 20, 2026, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM.

Folklife Marketplace Open Hours

Folklife Marketplace Shop, make, and connect in the Smithsonian Folklife Marketplace! This pop-up market and brings together artists and makers from across the United States in a living expression of craft, creativity, and community. You’ll find products from U.S.-based artists and makers—from Louisiana-grown Acadian cotton bags and bandanas printed in Tucson to specialty syrups crafted in the Ozarks, plus 250th commemorative merchandise. Accessibility: ASL interpretation will be available from 1 to 5 p.m. upon request and provided as available. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Pop-up Shop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required). Sunday, June 21, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. For more info visit festival.si.edu.

Alfombra Drop-in Workshop with Ubaldo Sánchez

Folklife Marketplace Look up, look down! The stunning architecture of the Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building is the canvas for Ubaldo A. Sánchez’s new site-specific installation. Come see the stunning sawdust alfombra (carpet) meticulously installed on the flat surface of the tile floor, made out of sawdust, florals, and other materials. Ask questions about this beautiful tradition, and try your hand it making your own mini alfombra! This workshop offers visitors a unique chance to participate in the creation of their own mini alfombra. During this hands-on activity, participants design a small sawdust carpet as a tabletop or floor-based project. After taking photos to capture your unique creations, sweep away your mini alfombra, echoing the tradition of fleeting beauty and communal participation by making room for others in the community to make their own alfombra. Accessibility: ASL interpretation will be available from 1 to 5 p.m. upon request and provided as available. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Workshop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Sunday, June 21, 2026, 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM.

Folklife Marketplace Open Hours

Folklife Marketplace Shop, make, and connect in the Smithsonian Folklife Marketplace! This pop-up market and brings together artists and makers from across the United States in a living expression of craft, creativity, and community. You’ll find products from U.S.-based artists and makers—from Louisiana-grown Acadian cotton bags and bandanas printed in Tucson to specialty syrups crafted in the Ozarks, plus 250th commemorative merchandise. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Pop-up Shop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required). Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. For more info visit festival.si.edu.

Tapestry Weaving with Tea Okropiridze

Folklife Marketplace This one-day workshop explores the art of tapestry weaving with artist Tea Okripiridze through hands-on practice. Students learn the basics of tapestry weaving, focusing on weft-faced techniques. Each participant works on a small, prepared frame loom provided by the instructor to create a six-by-six-inch tapestry inspired by architectural elements of the Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building. Advance registration is required for this paid workshop. , Accessibility: We strive to create an accessible and inclusive environment for all visitors. If you require accessibility supports such as ASL interpretation, captioning, audio description, or other services, you can indicate that request on the order form. To allow for provider scheduling, please make requests no later than ten days prior to the workshop date. Please direct any other accessibility questions to NuttingD@si.edu with the subject line “Marketplace Workshop Accessibility.”. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Workshop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 10:15 AM – 4:30 PM. For more info visit www.eventbrite.com.

Reflections on the 1976 Bicentennial and the Nation’s 250th Anniversary in 2026

For the Common Good At the time of the U.S. Bicentennial in 1976, the country was divided over issues including the Vietnam War, Watergate, a presidential resignation, civil rights movements, and a growing generation gap. But that summer, the Smithsonian brought people together during an extended three-month Bicentennial Folklife Festival. In many ways, it was the starting point for the Smithsonian careers of two young scholars: Lonnie Bunch and Richard Kurin. Today, fifty years later, the country faces its current divisions, yet the Smithsonian again aims to bring people together in what it calls “our shared future.” What were the lessons of the Bicentennial? What has been carried forward? And what is the Smithsonian doing now, as we mark the nation’s 250th to make life better, in our country and around the world? Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch and Distinguished Scholar and Ambassador at Large Richard Kurin provide their perspectives in a lively conversation. ASL interpretation and live captioning will be available… Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://youtube.com/live/Dt6Qejiq_3Y?feature=share. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected). Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM. For more info visit festival.si.edu.

Safety, Service, and Access: Behind the Scenes with the Office of Protection Services

For the Common Good What does it take to keep the Smithsonian running when the unexpected happens? From snowstorms to government shutdowns, the Smithsonian’s Office of Protection Services staff work behind the scenes to protect more than 14 million visitors each year, safeguard the national museum’s priceless collections, and secure facilities no matter what happens. Join us for a behind-the-scenes conversation from one of the largest units within the Smithsonian that works every day to balance security with public access across museums, research centers, and public spaces. You’ll hear from Lieutenant Jahmal James based in Suitland, Maryland, Officer Louis Holliday with the National Air and Space Museum, and Officer Wendell Diggs with the National Museum of American History. OPS acting director Morgan C. Kane will moderate. Through real stories and firsthand experiences, panelists will share how they navigate uncertainty, adapt in real time, and continue to serve the public during moments of disruption. This discussion will… Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://youtube.com/live/uv5ApvriM6Y?feature=share. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected). Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit www.si.edu.

Folklife Marketplace Open Hours

Folklife Marketplace Shop, make, and connect in the Smithsonian Folklife Marketplace! This pop-up market and brings together artists and makers from across the United States in a living expression of craft, creativity, and community. You’ll find products from U.S.-based artists and makers—from Louisiana-grown Acadian cotton bags and bandanas printed in Tucson to specialty syrups crafted in the Ozarks, plus 250th commemorative merchandise. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Pop-up Shop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required). Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. For more info visit festival.si.edu.

Introduction to Bookbinding: The Sewn Softcover Book

Folklife Marketplace Explore the art and structure of the handmade book in this introductory workshop with local creative Amaal Younes. Participants are introduced to the history of bookbinding, basic terminology, tools, materials, and the techniques of creating a softcover exposed spine book, one of the oldest binding techniques. This workshop invites participants into bookbinding as both skill and slow practice—an encounter with paper, thread, and the handmade book as a vessel for memory and making. Advance registration is required for this paid workshop. Accessibility: We strive to create an accessible and inclusive environment for all visitors. If you require accessibility supports such as ASL interpretation, captioning, audio description, or other services, you can indicate that request on the order form. To allow for provider scheduling, please make requests no later than ten days prior to the workshop date. Please direct any other accessibility questions to NuttingD@si.edu with the subject line “Marketplace Workshop… Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Workshop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit www.eventbrite.com.

InSight: Photos and Stories from the National Museum of the American Indian Archives

For the Common Good The exhibition InSight: Photos and Stories from the Archives at the National Museum of the American Indian give an intimate view of Indigenous lives across the Western Hemisphere and across time. The photos show everyday moments of joy and quite reflection. In these images, people attend social gatherings, pose for family photos, and learn from relatives. Each photo has a story to tell. It is the rich insight shared by Native people that brings these stories to life. In this session, InSight exhibition curators discuss their work stewarding the archival collections at NMAI, working in collaboration with Native communities, and how this work directly led to the creation of the first NMAI Archives exhibition in more than two decades. You’ll hear from processing archives Rachel Menyuk, head archivist Emily Moazami, and reference archivist Nathan Sowry, moderated by exhibits manager Meg Rivers. Photo: Thommy Mestokosho (Innu, 1937-2016) playing guitar, Quebec, Canada, 1959. Photograph by William… Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://youtube.com/live/gOkRSaBEtmw?feature=share. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected). Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM. For more info visit americanindian.si.edu.

Calling All Jazz Cats! Jazz at the Smithsonian

For the Common Good It’s not just about the music... Smithsonian Jazz at the National Museum of American History explores and celebrates the American experience through the transformative power of jazz. Through the museum’s collections, scholarship, concerts, exhibitions, and other programs, audiences of all ages can appreciate this genre as a bridge connecting our nation’s identity, our shared history, and our communities. Join music educator, master saxophonist, and Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra artistic director Charlie Young, alongside National Museum of American History curators Krystal Klingenberg and Theo Gonzalves, in a conversation about the place of jazz in American culture and history. ASL interpretation and live captioning will be available both in person and on the livestream video. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://youtube.com/live/hnH7zgcvYr0?feature=share. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected). Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit americanhistory.si.edu.

Birchbark Pyrography with Sierra Henries

Folklife Marketplace Multimedia artist Sierra Autumn Henries is a member of the Chaubunagungamaug band of Nipmuck living at the intersection of Passamaquoddy and Penobscot homelands in Massachusetts. Consisting primarily of pyrography and birch bark, her art endeavors to honor the beauty of natural color and form while incorporating line work that lives harmoniously with the material. Her Eastern Woodlands culture plays a role in all aspects of her artistic process—from mindset and approach while gathering bark to the creation and completion of a design. Each piece is meticulously cut, sketched, and burned free-hand, without stencils. Come watch Henries’s process, learn about the stunning birchbark centered in her art, and ask questions! Through intentional process and a reflection of her relationship with land and community (both human and otherwise), she hopes her art will foster conversation and connection with nature, as well as spark an interest in others to explore their own creative self-expression. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Demonstration. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Thursday, June 25, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.

Eastern Woodlands Flutes and Music with Hawk Henries

Folklife Marketplace Hawk Henries (Chaubunagungamaug Nipmuck) has been expertly crafting Eastern Woodlands flutes through ancestral and contemporary techniques for over thirty-five years. During this session, Henries will demonstrate the process and techniques used to create a flute, as well as how the details are honed so the sound is clear and sweet. You’re welcome to try your hand at various steps. Ask questions; get to know his perspectives, stories, and philosophy regarding flute making and life. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Demonstration. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Thursday, June 25, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.

Folklife Marketplace Open Hours

Folklife Marketplace Shop, make, and connect in the Smithsonian Folklife Marketplace! This pop-up market and brings together artists and makers from across the United States in a living expression of craft, creativity, and community. You’ll find products from U.S.-based artists and makers—from Louisiana-grown Acadian cotton bags and bandanas printed in Tucson to specialty syrups crafted in the Ozarks, plus 250th commemorative merchandise. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Pop-up Shop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required). Thursday, June 25, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. For more info visit festival.si.edu.

Voices of History: Oral History Across the Smithsonian

For the Common Good The Smithsonian is deeply committed to preserving human stories so that the past might enrich our future. Oral history programs across the Smithsonian maintain these memories through recorded interviews, allowing artists, activists, professionals, and witnesses and makers of history and culture to share their experiences in their own words. These interviews spark exhibitions, books, research projects, documentaries, podcasts, and so much more from their home in Washington, D.C. To learn more about the processes, methods, and outputs of more than seven decades of oral history initiatives across the Smithsonian, join Rachel Seidman, curator at the American Women’s History Museum; Miriam Doutriaux, head of collections at the Anacostia Community Museum; Jose Centeno-Melendez, oral historian at the National Museum of American History; and Ben Gillespie, head of curatorial affairs at the Archives of American Art. Image: Composite screenshots of Pandemic Oral History Project participants, 2020. Archives of… Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://youtube.com/live/hO46SNdVQAY?feature=share. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected). Thursday, June 25, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.

Smithsonian Starstruck: An Immersive Experience

For the Common Good Smithsonian Starstruck: An Immersive Experience is an interactive, virtual-reality experience that begins at Earth’s observatories and launches visitors into the universe, aboard the world’s most powerful space telescopes. Developed in close collaboration with the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO), Starstruck translates real astronomical data from SAO, NASA, and the European Space Agency into a breathtaking journey through space. Developed in close collaboration with the Smithsonian Office of Visitor Accessibility, Starstruck incorporates accessibility features such as captions, visual descriptions, wheelchair-optimized viewing, assistive listening devices, complimentary companion access, and monthly low-sensory days. Trained staff and fully accessible venues help ensure a welcoming experience for all. Join senior astrophysicist Randall Smith, astrophysicist Laura Brenneman, Smithsonian Enterprises acting director Denise Elliott, and Office of Visitor Accessibility director Beth Ziebarth to get a… Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://youtube.com/live/sgRSEKKuB8o. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected). Thursday, June 25, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit smithsonianstarstruck.com.

Eastern Woodlands Flutes and Music with Hawk Henries

Folklife Marketplace Hawk Henries (Chaubunagungamaug Nipmuck) has been expertly crafting Eastern Woodlands flutes through ancestral and contemporary techniques for over thirty-five years. During this session, Henries will demonstrate the process and techniques used to create a flute, as well as how the details are honed so the sound is clear and sweet. You’re welcome to try your hand at various steps. Ask questions; get to know his perspectives, stories, and philosophy regarding flute making and life. Accessibility: ASL interpretation will be available from 1 to 5 p.m. upon request and provided as available. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Demonstration. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Friday, June 26, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.

Folklife Marketplace Open Hours

Folklife Marketplace Shop, make, and connect in the Smithsonian Folklife Marketplace! This pop-up market and brings together artists and makers from across the United States in a living expression of craft, creativity, and community. You’ll find products from U.S.-based artists and makers—from Louisiana-grown Acadian cotton bags and bandanas printed in Tucson to specialty syrups crafted in the Ozarks, plus 250th commemorative merchandise. Accessibility: ASL interpretation will be available from 1 to 5 p.m. upon request and provided as available. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Pop-up Shop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required). Friday, June 26, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. For more info visit festival.si.edu.

Birchbark Pyrography Workshop with Sierra Henries

Folklife Marketplace Have you ever wondered what it’s like to turn a piece of tree bark into art? In this workshop, learn about birchbark colors and textures, sketch a line-work design, and burn your completed design with a pyrography tool. Sierra Autumn Henries, a member of the Chaubunagungamaug Nipmuck tribe, has been experimenting with pyrography for more than thirty years and incorporating birchbark into her practice for nearly twenty. She will provide participants with a small sample of bark on which to create your design, plus pencils, paper, pyrography tools, and inspirational items from nature. This is a very relaxed and welcoming workshop open to myriad levels of experience. We’re all learners here! Advance registration is required for this paid workshop. , Accessibility: We strive to create an accessible and inclusive environment for all visitors. If you require accessibility supports such as ASL interpretation, captioning, audio description, or other services, you can indicate that request on the order… Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Workshop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Friday, June 26, 2026, 10:15 AM – 1:15 PM. For more info visit www.eventbrite.com.

How Can You Forget Me: Filipino American Stories

For the Common Good Learn more about the overlooked history of a trailblazing Filipino community in California from the 1910s to the 1970s! The conversation will focus on key stories, objects, and themes from the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center’s newest exhibition How Can You Forget Me: Filipino American Stories, on view in the National Museum of American History. The panel will be moderated by education specialist Mia Cariello and include curator Sam Vong, gallery educator Aurianna Nacua, and others. ASL interpretation and live captioning will be available both in person and on the livestream video. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://youtube.com/live/oz0Qpmfk27U?feature=share. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected). Friday, June 26, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM. For more info visit apa.si.edu.

Tiny Stamps, Big Stories: Inside the World’s Largest Stamp Gallery and One-Minute Wonders

For the Common Good The Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum invites stamp lovers, history buffs, and curious visitors alike to discover history in a way you’ve never experienced before—through the remarkable stories hidden inside tiny pieces of paper that helped shape the world. In 2013, after nearly a decade of planning and curating, the world’s largest stamp gallery opened to the public inside the museum. This 12,000-square-foot exhibition features approximately 20,000 philatelic objects, including the only surviving piece of mail sent on July 4, 1776, a mailbox recovered from near the World Trade Center after 9/11, and thousands of stamps from around the globe that reflect moments of triumph, conflict, innovation, and change. Through these small but powerful artifacts, visitors can explore the rise and fall of empires, presidencies, and world events across centuries of human history. To connect these extraordinary stories to today’s audiences, the museum launched the One-Minute Wonders initiative, which brings fascinating… Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://youtube.com/live/t9e3nss6dh4?feature=share. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected). Friday, June 26, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit postalmuseum.si.edu.

Birchbark Pyrography with Sierra Henries

Folklife Marketplace Sierra Autumn Henries’s birchbark artwork comes into being through a mixture of methods: sketching, cutting, and burning with a pyrography tool. Watch the steps of the process unfold as a piece of bark makes its transformation into a new piece of art. Sharing from her experience of thirty-plus years making art, as well as her cultural perspectives as an Indigenous Chaubunagungamaug Nipmuck artist, Henries is happy to answer questions about everything from gathering bark and choosing the right piece to the tools and methods used. Examples of birchbark and completed artworks will be available to see. Multimedia artist Sierra Autumn Henries is a member of the Chaubunagungamaug band of Nipmuck living at the intersection of Passamaquoddy and Penobscot homelands in Massachusetts. Consisting primarily of pyrography and birch bark, her art endeavors to honor the beauty of natural color and form while incorporating line work that lives harmoniously with the material. Her Eastern Woodlands culture plays a role in all… Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Demonstration. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Friday, June 26, 2026, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM.

Eastern Woodlands Flutes and Music with Hawk Henries

Folklife Marketplace Hawk Henries (Chaubunagungamaug Nipmuck) has been expertly crafting Eastern Woodlands flutes through ancestral and contemporary techniques for over thirty-five years. During this session, Henries will demonstrate the process and techniques used to create a flute, as well as how the details are honed so the sound is clear and sweet. You’re welcome to try your hand at various steps. Ask questions; get to know his perspectives, stories, and philosophy regarding flute making and life. Accessibility: ASL interpretation will be available from 1 to 5 p.m. upon request and provided as available. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Demonstration. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Saturday, June 27, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.

Folklife Marketplace Open Hours

Folklife Marketplace Shop, make, and connect in the Smithsonian Folklife Marketplace! This pop-up market and brings together artists and makers from across the United States in a living expression of craft, creativity, and community. You’ll find products from U.S.-based artists and makers—from Louisiana-grown Acadian cotton bags and bandanas printed in Tucson to specialty syrups crafted in the Ozarks, plus 250th commemorative merchandise. Accessibility: ASL interpretation will be available from 1 to 5 p.m. upon request and provided as available. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Pop-up Shop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required). Saturday, June 27, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. For more info visit festival.si.edu.

Birchbark Pyrography Workshop with Sierra Henries

Folklife Marketplace Have you ever wondered what it’s like to turn a piece of tree bark into art? In this workshop, learn about birchbark colors and textures, sketch a line-work design, and burn your completed design with a pyrography tool. Sierra Autumn Henries, a member of the Chaubunagungamaug Nipmuck tribe, has been experimenting with pyrography for more than thirty years and incorporating birchbark into her practice for nearly twenty. She will provide participants with a small sample of bark on which to create your design, plus pencils, paper, pyrography tools, and inspirational items from nature. This is a very relaxed and welcoming workshop open to myriad levels of experience. We’re all learners here! Advance registration is required for this paid workshop. , Accessibility: We strive to create an accessible and inclusive environment for all visitors. If you require accessibility supports such as ASL interpretation, captioning, audio description, or other services, you can indicate that request on the order… Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Workshop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Saturday, June 27, 2026, 10:15 AM – 1:15 PM. For more info visit www.eventbrite.com.

For the People: Living Traditions in the Classroom

For the Common Good What does it look like to bring living traditions and local culture into the classroom—and beyond it? Learn about the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage’s For the People: Exploring Living Traditions for Learning program for teaching artists and educators which uses folklife festivals as experiential learning laboratories. Join us for a panel conversation featuring members of the For the People community as they reflect on how exploring living traditions can enliven learning and deepen our relationships with students and community alike. You’ll hear from program specialist Philippa Rappoport and education project coordinator Ashleigh Coren at the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, plus classroom teacher Destini Collins and teaching artist Katrina Villavicencio. ASL interpretation and live captioning will be available both in person and on the livestream video. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://youtube.com/live/qPeGgNtfZ9s?feature=share. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected). Saturday, June 27, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM. For more info visit festival.si.edu.

Play Date! Early Learning Collaborative at the Smithsonian

For the Common Good Throughout the Smithsonian, we create opportunities for children of all ages and abilities to learn. Early-learning educators work to create intentional programming aimed toward young children, as well as to design permanently open, child‑friendly museum spaces—allowing museums to exist as centers of learning for a new generation of critical thinkers and problem solvers. By creating interdisciplinary and holistic educational experiences, the Early Learning Collaborative gives our youngest visitors creative and playful ways to interact with our museums. Join Anne Matlock, youth and family programs manager at the National Postal Museum; Beth Evans, youth and family programs coordinator at the National Portrait Gallery; and Emily Porter, manager of early childhood and family learning experiences, and Silvana Oderisi, nature play learning specialist, at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, for a panel discussion about early education initiatives across the Smithsonian. The conversation will be moderated by Ann… Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://youtube.com/live/LykDdJdalLo?feature=share. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected). Saturday, June 27, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit www.si.edu.

Birchbark Pyrography with Sierra Henries

Folklife Marketplace Sierra Autumn Henries’s birchbark artwork comes into being through a mixture of methods: sketching, cutting, and burning with a pyrography tool. Watch the steps of the process unfold as a piece of bark makes its transformation into a new piece of art. Sharing from her experience of thirty-plus years making art, as well as her cultural perspectives as an Indigenous Chaubunagungamaug Nipmuck artist, Henries is happy to answer questions about everything from gathering bark and choosing the right piece to the tools and methods used. Examples of birchbark and completed artworks will be available to see. Multimedia artist Sierra Autumn Henries is a member of the Chaubunagungamaug band of Nipmuck living at the intersection of Passamaquoddy and Penobscot homelands in Massachusetts. Consisting primarily of pyrography and birch bark, her art endeavors to honor the beauty of natural color and form while incorporating line work that lives harmoniously with the material. Her Eastern Woodlands culture plays a role in all… Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Demonstration. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Saturday, June 27, 2026, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM.

Birchbark Pyrography with Sierra Henries

Eastern Woodlands Flutes and Music with Hawk Henries

Folklife Marketplace Hawk Henries (Chaubunagungamaug Nipmuck) has been expertly crafting Eastern Woodlands flutes through ancestral and contemporary techniques for over thirty-five years. During this session, Henries will demonstrate the process and techniques used to create a flute, as well as how the details are honed so the sound is clear and sweet. You’re welcome to try your hand at various steps. Ask questions; get to know his perspectives, stories, and philosophy regarding flute making and life. Accessibility: ASL interpretation will be available from 1 to 5 p.m. upon request and provided as available. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Demonstration. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Sunday, June 28, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.

Folklife Marketplace Open Hours

Folklife Marketplace Shop, make, and connect in the Smithsonian Folklife Marketplace! This pop-up market and brings together artists and makers from across the United States in a living expression of craft, creativity, and community. You’ll find products from U.S.-based artists and makers—from Louisiana-grown Acadian cotton bags and bandanas printed in Tucson to specialty syrups crafted in the Ozarks, plus 250th commemorative merchandise. Accessibility: ASL interpretation will be available from 1 to 5 p.m. upon request and provided as available. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Pop-up Shop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required). Sunday, June 28, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. For more info visit festival.si.edu.

Folklife Marketplace Open Hours

Folklife Marketplace Shop, make, and connect in the Smithsonian Folklife Marketplace! This pop-up market and brings together artists and makers from across the United States in a living expression of craft, creativity, and community. You’ll find products from U.S.-based artists and makers—from Louisiana-grown Acadian cotton bags and bandanas printed in Tucson to specialty syrups crafted in the Ozarks, plus 250th commemorative merchandise. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Pop-up Shop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required). Tuesday, June 30, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. For more info visit festival.si.edu.

Colorful Clay Workshop with Sue Decker

Folklife Marketplace Bring family and friends to get hands-on with a fun air-dry clay project. Enjoy a creative moment as you form, stamp, and paint a small trinket bowl with guidance from local artist Sue Decker. While your project dries, paint a pendant to match. As you work on your projects, learn about the ceramics process as well as the history of pottery around the world and in the United States. Advance registration is required for this paid workshop. , Accessibility: We strive to create an accessible and inclusive environment for all visitors. If you require accessibility supports such as ASL interpretation, captioning, audio description, or other services, you can indicate that request on the order form. To allow for provider scheduling, please make requests no later than ten days prior to the workshop date. Please direct any other accessibility questions to NuttingD@si.edu with the subject line “Marketplace Workshop Accessibility.”. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Workshop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Tuesday, June 30, 2026, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM. For more info visit www.eventbrite.com.

Smithsonian Goes to the Moon

For the Common Good Fly me to the moon! Skip the astronaut training and learn about the Moon and crewed and robotic lunar missions from Smithsonian collections. In this conversation, curators will highlight some iconic as well as lesser-known objects, from lunar meteorites and the Apollo 11 command module Columbia to a space-themed charm bracelet and art and toys inspired by space exploration. Hear some of the stories behind the objects from National Air and Space Museum staff Margaret Weitekamp, curator for social and cultural history of spaceflight; Teasel Muir-Harmony, curator for the Apollo collection; Emily Margolis, curator for contemporary spaceflight; and Matt Shindell, curator for the history of planetary science; and Cari Corrigan, research geologist/curator of Antarctic meteorites at the National Museum of Natural History. Image: Apollo 11 Command Module Columbia, ASL interpretation and live captioning will be available both in person and on the livestream video. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://youtube.com/live/MKWkfAwZ6s8?feature=share. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected). Tuesday, June 30, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM. For more info visit airandspace.si.edu.

Gunboat Philadelphia: The Warship as Old as America!

For the Common Good “The story of the Gunboat Philadelphia is a microcosm of the nation both then and now.” In the summer of 1776, more than 12,000 people—including free and enslaved African Americans, the Indigenous Stockbridge Militia, French Canadiens, and hundreds of women from up and down the East Coast—worked to construct a massive complex of forts as well as a fleet of armed vessels at the southern end of Lake Champlain. The effort aimed to stop a British invasion from Canada that threatened to end the American Revolution just weeks after the nation declared independence. Today, the only surviving, intact product of this enormous building project is the Gunboat Philadelphia. Small by warship standards, at 54 feet long and weighing 29 tons, the vessel played an outsized role in the American war effort. In 1961, the Philadelphia became part of the National Museum of American History’s collection, and since 2019 it has been the focus of an extensive conservation project. Dr. Peter Fix, research scientist at Texas A&M… Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://youtube.com/live/_l3ApJpZjx8?feature=share. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected). Tuesday, June 30, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit americanhistory.si.edu.

Folklife Marketplace Open Hours

Folklife Marketplace Shop, make, and connect in the Smithsonian Folklife Marketplace! This pop-up market and brings together artists and makers from across the United States in a living expression of craft, creativity, and community. You’ll find products from U.S.-based artists and makers—from Louisiana-grown Acadian cotton bags and bandanas printed in Tucson to specialty syrups crafted in the Ozarks, plus 250th commemorative merchandise. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Pop-up Shop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required). Wednesday, July 1, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. For more info visit festival.si.edu.

Colorful Clay Workshop with Sue Decker

Folklife Marketplace Bring family and friends to get hands-on with a fun air-dry clay project. Enjoy a creative moment as you form, stamp, and paint a small trinket bowl with guidance from local artist Sue Decker. While your project dries, paint a pendant to match. As you work on your projects, learn about the ceramics process as well as the history of pottery around the world and in the United States. Advance registration is required for this paid workshop. , Accessibility: We strive to create an accessible and inclusive environment for all visitors. If you require accessibility supports such as ASL interpretation, captioning, audio description, or other services, you can indicate that request on the order form. To allow for provider scheduling, please make requests no later than ten days prior to the workshop date. Please direct any other accessibility questions to NuttingD@si.edu with the subject line “Marketplace Workshop Accessibility.”. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Workshop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Wednesday, July 1, 2026, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM. For more info visit www.eventbrite.com.

How Now, Butter Cow? The Making of the Renwick’s State Fairs: Growing American Craft Exhibition

For the Common Good A life-sized cow carved out of butter is one of the many amazing objects highlighted in the State Fairs: Growing American Craft exhibition, currently on display at the Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery. (And it’ the only one that has its own temperature-controlled space!) Learn how the butter cow was constructed, how it is maintained, and many other behind-the-scenes details about the exhibition, from the team behind it. Mary Savig, Fleur and Charles Bresler Curator‑in‑Charge of the Renwick Gallery, will moderate a panel that includes objects conservator Leah Bright, exhibition designer Meghan O’Loughlin, and award‑winning butter sculptor Sarah Pratt. Together, they’ll offer an inside look at the creativity, conservation, and craftsmanship, that makes this exhibition a cornerstone of the Smithsonian’s 250th celebration. ASL interpretation and live captioning will be available both in person and on the livestream video. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://youtube.com/live/IdJkmKeZQCw?feature=share. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected). Wednesday, July 1, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM. For more info visit americanart.si.edu.

If These Walls Could Talk: Restoring the Smithsonian Castle

For the Common Good 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 Smithsonian began or was first exhibited at the Castle. Last comprehensively renovated in 1968, the Castle was closed in 2025 for an extensive, multiyear interior and exterior restoration, but has reopened temporarily from May 22 to September 7 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, including a special exhibition entitled American Aspirations (June 2–July 26) that brings together some of the Smithsonian’s most treasured objects. Join Smithsonian staff Carly Bond, associate director of architectural history and historic preservation, and Jamil Burnett, supervisory senior construction manager, to learn about the Castle’s current restoration project and the many stories this iconic historic building tells. ASL… Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://youtube.com/live/mcg4hnXZIyM?feature=share. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected). Wednesday, July 1, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit www.si.edu.

Elderberry Syrup Making Workshop with Eating the Ozarks

Folklife Marketplace In this interactive workshop, participants learn how to create a nourishing, time-honored remedy from one of the Ozarks’ most beloved berries, all from their own kitchen. Participants will be guided step by step through the process of making elderberry syrup alongside instructor Rachael West. Explore the history and traditional uses of elderberry, its role in seasonal wellness, and how to prepare and customize the syrup with warming spices and herbs. Whether you are new to herbal remedies or looking to deepen your practice, this workshop offers practical skills you can return to year after year. West is the owner, lead instructor, and founder of Eating the Ozarks, which offers foraging classes, wild-infused meals, and special event catering in southwest Missouri. Advance registration is required for this paid workshop. , Accessibility: Auto-generated captions will be available for this workshop through the Zoom platform. If you require accessibility supports such as ASL interpretation, audio description,… Stage: Online. Folklife Categories: Workshop. Accessibility: Captioning. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Wednesday, July 1, 2026, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM. For more info visit www.eventbrite.com.

Folklife Marketplace Open Hours

Folklife Marketplace Shop, make, and connect in the Smithsonian Folklife Marketplace! This pop-up market and brings together artists and makers from across the United States in a living expression of craft, creativity, and community. You’ll find products from U.S.-based artists and makers—from Louisiana-grown Acadian cotton bags and bandanas printed in Tucson to specialty syrups crafted in the Ozarks, plus 250th commemorative merchandise. Accessibility: ASL interpretation will be available from 1 to 4 p.m. upon request and provided as available. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Pop-up Shop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required). Thursday, July 2, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. For more info visit festival.si.edu.

Colorful Clay Workshop with Sue Decker (ASL Interpreted)

Folklife Marketplace Bring family and friends to get hands-on with a fun air-dry clay project. Enjoy a creative moment as you form, stamp, and paint a small trinket bowl with guidance from local artist Sue Decker. While your project dries, paint a pendant to match. As you work on your projects, learn about the ceramics process as well as the history of pottery around the world and in the United States. Advance registration is required for this paid workshop. , Accessibility: This workshop will be ASL interpreted. If you require additional accessibility supports such as captioning, audio description, or other services, you can indicate that request on the order form. To allow for provider scheduling, please make requests no later than ten days prior to the workshop date. Please direct any other accessibility questions to NuttingD@si.edu with the subject line “Marketplace Workshop Accessibility.”. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Workshop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Thursday, July 2, 2026, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM. For more info visit www.eventbrite.com.

Making the Smithsonian Accessible for All Visitors

For the Common Good For more than thirty years, the Smithsonian’s Office of Visitor Accessibility (OVA) has served as an institutional and international resource for people with disabilities and museum professionals. OVA is a catalyst for consistent and integrated inclusive design that provides meaningful access to our facilities, programs, and services. Public programs like Morning at the Museum and See Me at the Smithsonian are regarded as the standard of excellence in accessibility programming. In addition, our Smithsonian colleagues champion accessibility by offering innovative experiences like programs for neurodivergent adults, specialized tours for people who are colorblind, and ASL tours led by Deaf docents. Join accessibility program specialist Ashley Grady (OVA), docent coordinator Geoffrey Cohrs (Smithsonian American Art Museum), accessibility program manager Diane Nutting (Smithsonian Folklife), and visitor accessibility and programs manager Emma Jaromin (Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum) for a discussion of… Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://youtube.com/live/zz1obERsDu0?feature=share. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected). Thursday, July 2, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM. For more info visit access.si.edu.

The Future Is Now? Reflections on the Promises of New Technologies

For the Common Good Joshua Bell, curator of globalization, National Museum of Natural History, Andrew Meade McGee, curator of computing, National Air and Space Museum, ASL interpretation and live captioning will be available both in person and on the livestream video. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://youtube.com/live/NgDSLm5l9_k. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected). Thursday, July 2, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.

Colorful Clay Workshop with Sue Decker

Folklife Marketplace Bring family and friends to get hands-on with a fun air-dry clay project. Enjoy a creative moment as you form, stamp, and paint a small trinket bowl with guidance from local artist Sue Decker. While your project dries, paint a pendant to match. As you work on your projects, learn about the ceramics process as well as the history of pottery around the world and in the United States. Advance registration is required for this paid workshop. , Accessibility: We strive to create an accessible and inclusive environment for all visitors. If you require accessibility supports such as ASL interpretation, captioning, audio description, or other services, you can indicate that request on the order form. To allow for provider scheduling, please make requests no later than ten days prior to the workshop date. Please direct any other accessibility questions to NuttingD@si.edu with the subject line “Marketplace Workshop Accessibility.”. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Workshop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Thursday, July 2, 2026, 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM. For more info visit www.eventbrite.com.

Printmaking and Painting Demonstration with Julia Chon

Folklife Marketplace Julia Chon, better known by her artist name Kimchi Juice, is a Washington, D.C.-based artist and muralist. Chon’s work explores the relationship between cultural tradition and its effects on generational identity. With a prominent Korean aesthetic in each piece, her work merges ancestry and traditions with the contemporary to convey the nuances of the Korean diaspora. During Chon’s residency in the Folklife Marketplace, she will work on a woodblock print, offering visitors the opportunity to observe the process of carving and printing on hanji (Korean handmade paper) in real time. She will carve the woodblocks, ink them, and print by hand. She will also spend time painting on onggi (traditional Korean earthenware). This will showcase the diversity in mediums that her practice incorporates. Her residency will center on process, repetition, and material. Both her printmaking and painting practices are slow, meticulous, and labor intensive. Visitors are welcome to stop by throughout the week to see the work… Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Demonstration. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Thursday, July 2, 2026, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM.

Folklife Marketplace Open Hours

Folklife Marketplace Shop, make, and connect in the Smithsonian Folklife Marketplace! This pop-up market and brings together artists and makers from across the United States in a living expression of craft, creativity, and community. You’ll find products from U.S.-based artists and makers—from Louisiana-grown Acadian cotton bags and bandanas printed in Tucson to specialty syrups crafted in the Ozarks, plus 250th commemorative merchandise. Accessibility: ASL interpretation will be available from 1 to 5 p.m. upon request and provided as available. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Pop-up Shop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required). Friday, July 3, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. For more info visit festival.si.edu.

Carved Printmaking with Julia Chon

Folklife Marketplace Try your hand at carving a woodblock and printmaking! Julia Chon, better known by her artist name Kimchi Juice, is a Washington, D.C.-based artist and muralist. Her work explores the relationship between cultural tradition and its effects on generational identity. With a prominent Korean aesthetic in each piece, Chon merges her ancestry and traditions with the contemporary to convey the nuances of the Korean diaspora. Advance registration is required for this paid workshop. , Accessibility: We strive to create an accessible and inclusive environment for all visitors. If you require accessibility supports such as ASL interpretation, captioning, audio description, or other services, you can indicate that request on the order form. To allow for provider scheduling, please make requests no later than ten days prior to the workshop date. Please direct any other accessibility questions to NuttingD@si.edu with the subject line “Marketplace Workshop Accessibility.”. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Workshop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Friday, July 3, 2026, 10:15 AM – 1:15 PM. For more info visit www.eventbrite.com.

Printmaking and Painting Demonstration with Julia Chon

Folklife Marketplace Open Hours

Folklife Marketplace Shop, make, and connect in the Smithsonian Folklife Marketplace! This pop-up market and brings together artists and makers from across the United States in a living expression of craft, creativity, and community. You’ll find products from U.S.-based artists and makers—from Louisiana-grown Acadian cotton bags and bandanas printed in Tucson to specialty syrups crafted in the Ozarks, plus 250th commemorative merchandise. Accessibility: ASL interpretation will be available from 1 to 5 p.m. upon request and provided as available. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Pop-up Shop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required). Saturday, July 4, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. For more info visit festival.si.edu.

Printmaking and Painting Demonstration with Julia Chon

Folklife Marketplace Open Hours

Folklife Marketplace Shop, make, and connect in the Smithsonian Folklife Marketplace! This pop-up market and brings together artists and makers from across the United States in a living expression of craft, creativity, and community. You’ll find products from U.S.-based artists and makers—from Louisiana-grown Acadian cotton bags and bandanas printed in Tucson to specialty syrups crafted in the Ozarks, plus 250th commemorative merchandise. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Pop-up Shop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required). Sunday, July 5, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. For more info visit festival.si.edu.

Folklife Marketplace Open Hours

Folklife Marketplace Shop, make, and connect in the Smithsonian Folklife Marketplace! This pop-up market and brings together artists and makers from across the United States in a living expression of craft, creativity, and community. You’ll find products from U.S.-based artists and makers—from Louisiana-grown Acadian cotton bags and bandanas printed in Tucson to specialty syrups crafted in the Ozarks, plus 250th commemorative merchandise. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Pop-up Shop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required). Tuesday, July 7, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. For more info visit festival.si.edu.

Printmaking and Junk Journaling with Globe at MICA

Folklife Marketplace Join Globe at MICA from Baltimore, Maryland, for a fun printmaking and journaling workshop! When Globe Poster Printing Corp. closed its doors in 2011, the Maryland Institute College of Art stepped in to preserve Globe’s archive and ensure the Globe story didn’t end. Sixteen truckloads of posters, wood type, printing blocks, sketches, and other tools of the trade wound through Baltimore’s streets to a new home, kicking off another era for Globe. Advance registration is required for this paid workshop. , Accessibility: We strive to create an accessible and inclusive environment for all visitors. If you require accessibility supports such as ASL interpretation, captioning, audio description, or other services, you can indicate that request on the order form. To allow for provider scheduling, please make requests no later than ten days prior to the workshop date. Please direct any other accessibility questions to NuttingD@si.edu with the subject line “Marketplace Workshop Accessibility.”. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Workshop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Tuesday, July 7, 2026, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM. For more info visit www.eventbrite.com.

Rethinking What It Means to Be a Museum: Shared Stewardship, Ethical Returns, and Trust-Building in Practice

For the Common Good In 2022, the Smithsonian adopted a Shared Stewardship and Ethical Returns Policy. According to Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III, this policy marks a “cultural shift in our concepts of possessions, ownership, and the stewardship of collections” across the institution. Since then, how have we worked to transform this cultural shift into real-world change? This panel brings together staff from several Smithsonian museums to share how they are interpreting the principles of shared stewardship—by showing up, listening, and building trust through collaborative work with communities, knowledge holders, and partners. Danielle Bennett from the National Museum of Asian Art will discuss the collaborative process that led to the ethical return of three objects to Cambodia in December 2025. Greg Adams will share how the principles of shared stewardship have shaped archival work at the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage and the National Museum of African Art (NMAfA). Kelly McHugh will describe the National Museum of… Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://www.youtube.com/live/13oBEKl9aEY. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected). Tuesday, July 7, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM. For more info visit folklife.si.edu.

Smithsonian Rural Initiatives: Democracy in Dialogue

For the Common Good The year 1776 represents the launching point of the qualities that make up American democracy, including but not limited to diversity, innovation, and perseverance. Communities of all sizes have drawn inspiration from these qualities to contribute to 250 years of the American experience. Centering local stories within this national narrative helps young people grasp the indispensability of the human voice, in all its varieties, in ensuring a robust democracy. Join Andy Mink, director of the Smithsonian’s Rural Initiative, as he leads a lively discussion with Democracy in Dialogue co-leads Ali McKersie, Sheeba Rashada, and Jared Morris from the Office of the Under Secretary of Education to hear examples of how this program has celebrated the unique stories of American towns, cities, and communities through the eyes of their youth. ASL interpretation and live captioning will be available both in person and on the livestream video. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://youtube.com/live/A4Ara4red2A?feature=share. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected). Tuesday, July 7, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit www.si.edu.

Pink House Alchemy Tasting

Folklife Marketplace Developed in a hundred-year-old pink house in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Pink House Alchemy was founded through the love of food and flavor. Inspired by complementary patterns in roots, barks, fruits, herbs, and botanicals, the company works every day to find new and perfect connections between ingredient to make simple syrups, bitters, and shrubs. Come learn more and stay for a taste of these carefully concocted goods. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Demonstration. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Tuesday, July 7, 2026, 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM.

Printmaking and Junk Journaling with Globe at MICA

Folklife Marketplace Open Hours

Folklife Marketplace Shop, make, and connect in the Smithsonian Folklife Marketplace! This pop-up market and brings together artists and makers from across the United States in a living expression of craft, creativity, and community. You’ll find products from U.S.-based artists and makers—from Louisiana-grown Acadian cotton bags and bandanas printed in Tucson to specialty syrups crafted in the Ozarks, plus 250th commemorative merchandise. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Pop-up Shop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required). Wednesday, July 8, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. For more info visit festival.si.edu.

Pink House Alchemy Tasting

Smithsonian Folkways Recordings Celebrates Forty Years

For the Common Good Originally founded in 1948 as an independent record label, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings will celebrate forty years at the Smithsonian in 2027. The home to the recorded legacy of Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Ella Jenkins, and Clifton Chenier, Folkways continues to steward the important recordings of our shared American experience while also releasing new recordings of music from up-and-coming artists whose work is tied to this historic catalog. Join us for a discussion of the label’s storied past and its plans for the future. Photo: Pete Seeger and Bernice Johnson Reagon perform at a Lead Belly Concert sponsored by Sing Out! Magazine, New York Town Hall, New York City. Photo by Diana J. Davies, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives, ASL interpretation and live captioning will be available both in person and on the livestream video. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://youtube.com/live/RjEWgjKUXow?feature=share. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected). Wednesday, July 8, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM. For more info visit folkways.si.edu.

From Classrooms to the Cosmos: How Smithsonian STARS Is Taking Astronomy to Rural Schools

For the Common Good Across rural parts of the United States, millions of students grow up under some of the nation’s darkest and clearest night skies. With the right support, rural schools can turn these skies into powerful classrooms for discovery. Launched in the nation’s 250th year, Smithsonian STARS (Scientists Taking Astronomy to Rural Schools) is a nationwide, strategic investment by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in the future of rural education. This session explores how STARS is building a long-term infrastructure designed to spark curiosity and provide a pathway to lifelong STEM learning and careers for millions of rural students across the country. You’ll hear from Kal Mannis, senior director for rural engagement with Arizona Science Center; astrophysicist Catherine Zucker; and Smithsonian STARS executive director Emma Marcucci. ASL interpretation and live captioning will be available both in person and on the livestream video. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://youtube.com/live/432cCWcWvzE?feature=share. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected). Wednesday, July 8, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.

Inky Blackness: Concocting Historical Iron Gall Ink

Folklife Marketplace This online “worktalk” includes a live demonstration of ink making, during which artist Natalie Stopka discusses the particularly entrancing visual and chemical properties of this richly colored writing and drawing medium. Learn to make your own ink from foraged plants and scavenged metal (or store-bought alternatives). Stopka will share recipes, foraging guidelines, and equipment recommendations. A Q&A follows the presentation. Advance registration is required for this paid session. Accessibility: Auto-generated captions will be available for this workshop through the Zoom platform. If you require accessibility supports such as ASL interpretation, audio description, or other services, you can indicate that request on the order form. To allow for provider scheduling, please make requests no later than ten days prior to the event. Please direct any other accessibility questions to NuttingD@si.edu with the subject line “Marketplace Workshop Accessibility.”. Stage: Online. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: Captioning. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Wednesday, July 8, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:45 PM. For more info visit www.eventbrite.com.

Bird Friendly Coffee and Brewing Workshop with Chesapeake Coffee

Folklife Marketplace Join Chesapeake Coffee Roasters, based in Crofton, Maryland, for an exploration of Smithsonian Bird Friendly® certified coffees from Africa and Central America. This online workshop provides a how-to guide to pour-over brewing. We’ll examine the entire roasting process, from time, temperature, profile, and the effect this has on a coffee bean. We’ll also discuss the craft of blending and brewing combined with a tasting and discussion on the sustainability of the coffee industry. A Q&A will be available. Advance registration is required for this paid online workshop. , Accessibility: Auto-generated captions will be available for this workshop through the Zoom platform. If you require accessibility supports such as ASL interpretation, audio description, or other services, you can indicate that request on the order form. To allow for provider scheduling, please make requests no later than ten days prior to the event. Please direct any other accessibility questions to NuttingD@si.edu with the subject line… Stage: Online. Folklife Categories: Workshop. Accessibility: Captioning. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Thursday, July 9, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM. For more info visit www.eventbrite.com.

Bird Friendly Coffee, Roasting, Brewing, and More with Chesapeake Coffee

Folklife Marketplace Established in 2002, Chesapeake Coffee Roasters is a certified organic and Bird Friendly® specialty coffee roaster that is committed to sustainability and supporting clean water and environmental health. The Smithsonian Bird Friendly® certification is the environmental gold standard in sustainable coffee and cocoa production. Certified farms are organic, deforestation-free, and guarantee habitat protection through agroforestry or forest conservation practices. When you purchase Bird Friendly certified coffee or cocoa, you preserve critical habitat for birds and wildlife, fight climate change, protect biodiversity, and support farmers committed to farming sustainably. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Demonstration. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Thursday, July 9, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.

Folklife Marketplace Open Hours

Folklife Marketplace Shop, make, and connect in the Smithsonian Folklife Marketplace! This pop-up market and brings together artists and makers from across the United States in a living expression of craft, creativity, and community. You’ll find products from U.S.-based artists and makers—from Louisiana-grown Acadian cotton bags and bandanas printed in Tucson to specialty syrups crafted in the Ozarks, plus 250th commemorative merchandise. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Pop-up Shop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required). Thursday, July 9, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. For more info visit festival.si.edu.

Meet the Beetles

For the Common Good Did you know beetles make up 25 percent of all animal life and 40 percent of all insects? The National Museum of Natural History houses one of the world’s largest insect collections, with over 35 million specimens. Of this remarkable number, roughly 7 million are beetles! Join Floyd Shockley, senior collections manager of entomology, who oversees this vast insect collection; Inger Toraason, an osteological specimen preparator who uses flesh-eating dermestid beetles to prepare animal skeletons for research and exhibition; and Frank Krell, a USDA taxonomist based at the museum who studies beetles and curates Smithsonian beetle collections. Together, the panelists will highlight the incredible diversity of beetles represented in the Smithsonian’s collections and explore the scope of their combined eighty years of work managing, using, and researching these extraordinary insects. Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage program curator Betty Belanus moderates. ASL interpretation and live captioning will be… Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://youtube.com/live/-BGdyfpA3Bo?feature=share. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected). Thursday, July 9, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM. For more info visit naturalhistory.si.edu.

Smithsonian Affiliations: What’s in Your Neighborhood?

For the Common Good The Smithsonian might be closer to your hometown than you think! Smithsonian Affiliations collaborates with a network of museums and cultural organizations across the country to create experiences that educate and inspire. Millions of people have experienced the Smithsonian in their neighborhoods through educational programs, inspiring exhibitions, and diverse collections. With more than 200 Smithsonian Affiliates in 48 states, Puerto Rico, and Panama, these partnerships bring the Smithsonian to communities nationwide. Hear firsthand how the Smithsonian engages with Affiliate organizations from two museum leaders. Session moderator Kara Blond, director of the Smithsonian Traveling Exhibition Service | Smithsonian Affiliations, will be in conversation with Andy Masich, president and CEO of the Senator John Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Ann Fortescue, executive director of the International Museum of Art & Science in McAllen, Texas, to offer an insider’s look at the Smithsonian’s… Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://youtube.com/live/4u4udnO5MZg?feature=share. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected). Thursday, July 9, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit affiliations.si.edu.

Bird Friendly Coffee, Roasting, Brewing, and More with Chesapeake Coffee

Folklife Marketplace Established in 2002, Chesapeake Coffee Roasters is a certified organic and Bird Friendly® specialty coffee roaster that is committed to sustainability and supporting clean water and environmental health. The Smithsonian Bird Friendly® certification is the environmental gold standard in sustainable coffee and cocoa production. Certified farms are organic, deforestation-free, and guarantee habitat protection through agroforestry or forest conservation practices. When you purchase Bird Friendly certified coffee or cocoa, you preserve critical habitat for birds and wildlife, fight climate change, protect biodiversity, and support farmers committed to farming sustainably. Accessibility: ASL interpretation will be available from 1 to 5 p.m. upon request and provided as available. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Demonstration. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Friday, July 10, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.

Folklife Marketplace Open Hours

Folklife Marketplace Shop, make, and connect in the Smithsonian Folklife Marketplace! This pop-up market and brings together artists and makers from across the United States in a living expression of craft, creativity, and community. You’ll find products from U.S.-based artists and makers—from Louisiana-grown Acadian cotton bags and bandanas printed in Tucson to specialty syrups crafted in the Ozarks, plus 250th commemorative merchandise. Accessibility: ASL interpretation will be available from 1 to 5 p.m. upon request and provided as available. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Pop-up Shop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required). Friday, July 10, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. For more info visit festival.si.edu.

Bird Friendly Coffee and Brewing Workshop with Chesapeake Coffee

Folklife Marketplace Join Chesapeake Coffee Roasters for an in-depth sensory panel and discussion on how the Smithsonian Bird Friendly® coffees you love reach the store shelves. This workshop delves into multiple methods of brewing coffee, how the brewing method affects the end results, how to more easily identify the tasting notes in a practical way, and how coffees are sourced and roasted, all with a focus on sustainability. Advance registration is required for this paid workshop. Accessibility: We strive to create an accessible and inclusive environment for all visitors. If you require accessibility supports such as ASL interpretation, captioning, audio description, or other services, you can indicate that request on the order form. To allow for provider scheduling, please make requests no later than ten days prior to the workshop date. Please direct any other accessibility questions to NuttingD@si.edu with the subject line “Marketplace Workshop Accessibility.”. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Workshop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Friday, July 10, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM.

Revitalizing the Hirshhorn’s Sculpture Garden

For the Common Good This fall, the Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden will reopen to the public after the largest revitalization project in the museum’s fifty-year history. Designed by artist and architect Hiroshi Sugimoto, the newly reimagined Sculpture Garden will fit the expanding creative ambitions of modern and contemporary artists while supporting the Hirshhorn’s beloved Modernist collections. Join curator Anne Reeve, sculpture conservator Anouk Verbeek, and horticulturalist Sarah Tietbohl for a behind-the-scenes peek at this project. Panelists will offer unique perspectives on the history of the Hirshhorn’s collection, conservation, and outdoor public art in conversation with the environment. ASL interpretation and live captioning will be available both in person and on the livestream video. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://youtube.com/live/kaYjsPQFp3s?feature=share. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected). Friday, July 10, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM. For more info visit hirshhorn.si.edu.

Looking Under the Hood of Lowriders at the National Museum of American History

For the Common Good The Corazón y Vida: Lowriding Culture exhibition, featuring two vibrant lowriders, El Rey and Gypsy Rose, opened at the National Museum of American History in September 2025, during Hispanic Heritage Month, and is on display through fall 2027. This captivating exhibition showcases the historical and cultural significance of cars in Mexican American culture. After the onset of World War II, cars transformed into symbols of the American Dream. For Mexican American and Chicano culture, lowrider cars were transformed into a rolling visual representation of pride and culture. Photographs and posters by Latina/o photographers, along with various objects, complement the two iconic Chevy Impalas that sparkle on display. Join head exhibit designer Michael Denison, exhibit developer Howard Morrison, and Mike Valle, president of Just Klownin Car Club—a local lowrider car club known for promoting culture and community around lowriders—for a panel moderated by Steve Velasquez, lead curator of the exhibition. This… Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://youtube.com/live/Z5HL8Q1R3zI?feature=share. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected). Friday, July 10, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit americanhistory.si.edu.

Bird Friendly Coffee, Roasting, Brewing, and More with Chesapeake Coffee

Folklife Marketplace Established in 2002, Chesapeake Coffee Roasters is a certified organic and Bird Friendly® specialty coffee roaster that is committed to sustainability and supporting clean water and environmental health. The Smithsonian Bird Friendly® certification is the environmental gold standard in sustainable coffee and cocoa production. Certified farms are organic, deforestation-free, and guarantee habitat protection through agroforestry or forest conservation practices. When you purchase Bird Friendly certified coffee or cocoa, you preserve critical habitat for birds and wildlife, fight climate change, protect biodiversity, and support farmers committed to farming sustainably. Accessibility: ASL interpretation will be available from 1 to 5 p.m. upon request and provided as available. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Demonstration. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Saturday, July 11, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.

Folklife Marketplace Open Hours

Folklife Marketplace Shop, make, and connect in the Smithsonian Folklife Marketplace! This pop-up market and brings together artists and makers from across the United States in a living expression of craft, creativity, and community. You’ll find products from U.S.-based artists and makers—from Louisiana-grown Acadian cotton bags and bandanas printed in Tucson to specialty syrups crafted in the Ozarks, plus 250th commemorative merchandise. Accessibility: ASL interpretation will be available from 1 to 5 p.m. upon request and provided as available. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Pop-up Shop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required). Saturday, July 11, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. For more info visit festival.si.edu.

“Freedom in the Air”: The Enduring Legacy of Bernice Johnson Reagon’s Work at the Smithsonian

For the Common Good Bernice Johnson Reagon (1942–2024), singer and song leader, civil rights activist, scholar, and Smithsonian Folkways Recordings artist, had a profound influence upon the Smithsonian and its work. Bernice’s Smithsonian career began in 1969 when she curated a program for the 1970 Festival of American Folklife, Black Music through the Languages of the New World. Shortly afterward, she laid the foundation for the Festival’s innovative African Diaspora program (1973–1976), which she described “as a part of a world family of culture based in Africa and extending to the Caribbean and Latin America to the United States.” Bernice’s work followed her to the National Museum of American History, where she founded the Program in Black American Culture, presenting performances, exhibitions, workshops, and symposia. As a curator with the museum’s Division of Community Life, she advocated for the need for collections and exhibitions representing the African American experience and conducted pioneering scholarly research.… Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://www.youtube.com/live/pFbdin9QcG4. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected). Saturday, July 11, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM. For more info visit folklife.si.edu.

Protecting Our Shared Histories at the Museum Conservation Institute

For the Common Good The Smithsonian Museum Conservation Institute advances the preservation of cultural heritage that carries the stories, histories, and memories essential to the human experience. Through innovative scientific research, trusted conservation practices, and responsive training initiatives, MCI equips museums, institutions, and communities with the interdisciplinary knowledge needed to care for cultural heritage across generations. For more than sixty years, the institute has worked to preserve objects, collections, buildings, and cultural sites that represent the historic, artistic, scientific, and cultural heritage of both the nation and the world, while fostering curiosity, connection, and resilience through the continued protection of shared histories. MCI’s work is grounded in three primary areas of focus: conservation and documentation, scientific research, and disaster preparedness and resilience. Find out what a typical workday looks like and why this work matters in a conversation between MCI director … Stage: Arts + Industries Building (South Hall). Online Link: https://youtube.com/live/UK-7VYeEg-M?feature=share. Folklife Categories: Narrative Session. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Interactivity Level: Low (direct participation is not expected). Saturday, July 11, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit mci.si.edu.

Bird Friendly Coffee and Brewing Workshop with Cheasapeake Coffee (ASL Interpreted)

Folklife Marketplace Join Chesapeake Coffee Roasters for an in-depth sensory panel and discussion on how the Smithsonian Bird Friendly® coffees you love reach the store shelves. This workshop delves into multiple methods of brewing coffee, how the brewing method affects the end results, how to more easily identify the tasting notes in a practical way, and how coffees are sourced and roasted, all with a focus on sustainability. Advance registration is required for this paid workshop. Accessibility: This workshop will be ASL interpreted. If you require additional accessibility supports such as captioning, audio description, or other services, you can indicate that request on the order form. To allow for provider scheduling, please make requests no later than ten days prior to the workshop date. Please direct any other accessibility questions to NuttingD@si.edu with the subject line “Marketplace Workshop Accessibility.”. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Workshop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. ASL-interpreted program. Interactivity Level: High (direct participation is encouraged). Saturday, July 11, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM. For more info visit www.eventbrite.com.

Bird Friendly Coffee, Roasting, Brewing, and More with Chesapeake Coffee

Folklife Marketplace Open Hours

Folklife Marketplace Shop, make, and connect in the Smithsonian Folklife Marketplace! This pop-up market and brings together artists and makers from across the United States in a living expression of craft, creativity, and community. You’ll find products from U.S.-based artists and makers—from Louisiana-grown Acadian cotton bags and bandanas printed in Tucson to specialty syrups crafted in the Ozarks, plus 250th commemorative merchandise. Stage: Arts + Industries Building (North Hall). Folklife Categories: Pop-up Shop. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Interactivity Level: Medium (direct participation is possible and invited but not required). Sunday, July 12, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. For more info visit festival.si.edu.

Stars, Stripes, and Stadiums: America’s 250th & FIFA 2026

Additional Programs Celebrate the World Cup and America’s 250th at the National Museum of African Art! Enjoy a moderated panel discussion, a Sounds of Africa concert, drop-in artmaking, a slideshow featuring soccer photography, and drinks for purchase! 3–4 p.m.: Panel discussion featuring FIFA photojournalist Kwabena Ofori (Lecture Hall, S2), 3–7 p.m.: Drop-in artmaking creating mini tifo—signs or banners created by fans (Pavilion), 7–10 p.m.: Sounds of Africa Concert featuring Sugarlane (Sylvia Williams Gallery, S1), Image Credit: Victor Ekpuk, Drawing, 1994, Ink, marker, and pencil on paper, 17.3 x 18 cm (6 13/16 x 7 1/16 in.), National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Gift of the artist By attending this event, you grant the Smithsonian Institution permission to photograph, film, videotape you and/or record your voice and likeness in connection with or the promotion of the project. Stage: National Museum of African Art. Folklife Categories: Performance. Workshop. Narrative Session. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Saturday, July 18, 2026, 3:00 PM – 10:00 PM. For more info visit www.eventbrite.com.