Smithsonian Folklife Festival

The 43rd-annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival begins this Wednesday, June 24, 2009, in Washington, D.C. The goal of the Festival is to "present, strengthen and preserve diverse, authentic, living traditions from around the world, in an effort to help everyone understand our cultural differences and similarities and to make connections with and learn from the tradition-bearers presenting their crafts."

The free Festival is held outdoors between the Smithsonian museums on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., from June 24 to June 28, then picking back up on July 1 and concluding on July 5. The opening ceremony of the Festival will take place at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 24, and thereafter, hours will be 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Highlights for kids and their families include a sing-along with children's music legend Ella Jenkins at 12:00 noon on Wednesday, June 24; drama and poetry presentations by up-and-coming kids' hip hop star Christylez; a concert with Ella Jenkins, Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer on June 27 at 5:30pm; songs and rhymes in Welsh; various Central and South American music presentations; and a star-studded tribute to Ella Jenkins on Sunday, June 28 at 4:00pm.