2013 Smithsonian Folklife Festival: Full Schedule, Directions and More

The 2013 Smithsonian Folklife Festival takes over the National Mall June 26 through 30 and July 3 through 7 to celebrate cultures, both American and international. 

This year's themes are Hungarian Heritage, One World, Many Voices and The Will to Adorn. 

"We think of it as a living cultural heritage exhibition," explained Richard Kurin, the former director of the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, in a video posted on the event website. 

The festival began in the 1960s and continues through today, highlighting unique cultural experiences each year. 

Schedule of Events

The festival runs Thursday through Sunday over the two weekends closest to the Fourth of July. Exhibits are open 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and there are special events like concerts most evenings after the main festival closes. 

Throughout the festival, you can watch cooking demonstrations, learn unique dances, see musical and craft performances and more. 

Whether you are interested in hearing "Traditional Hungarian Tunes" or attending "Dance House with Heveder and Szalonna and His Band" the festival has a wide range of free entertainment that's educational too.

See the full schedule here.

Transportation and Directions

The folklife festival runs a large length of the National Mall between 14th Street NW to the west and around 9th Street to the east. It is sandwiched between Jefferson Drive SW to the south and Madison Drive SW to the north. Look for it between the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol building.

The closest Metro station to the festival is the Smithsonian Metro station on the Blue and Orange Lines, take the Mall exit.

Other lines can get you within close walking distance:

• L'Enfant Plaza on the Green and Yellow Line
• Archives Navy Memorial on the Green and Yellow Line
• Federal Triangle on the Blue and Orange Line
• Metro Center on the Red Line