Special Events - Washington, DC

June-July

• Smithsonian Folklife Festival (www.folklife.si.edu): June 25-29, 2008 and July 2-6, 2008; tel. 202-357-2700: Safe to say, there is nothing else like it. Each year for 10 days starting in late June, the Smithsonian takes over the National Mall to showcase cultural traditions from around the world. The festival usually focuses on two to three different cultures and explores every aspect of the cultures’ everyday living. For many participants, it’s their first time outside of their villages or countries. (A hotel manager I know says one group that stayed at his hotel had never seen an elevator before.) Each day is packed with interactive demonstrations and things to do and see, including dance and musical performances, crafts, cooking demonstrations, storytelling and discussions of cultural issues.

Planning tips: This is not the festival to just show up and walk around. There is a lot of walking and this tends to be one of the hottest times of the year, so bring water and take advantage of the many activities under tents to spend time in the shade.

While my husband and I have visited many times without kids, when we took our two girls this year we did our research in advance and arrived with a list of the activities that we knew they would enjoy, a map of where each activity was located and a schedule of events. All of this information is available on the festival’s easy-to-use Web site. Knowing our kids are big Food Network fans, we made sure to catch the cooking demonstrations. They also enjoyed a storytelling session, and the oldest was particularly excited by a session on Northern Ireland outdoor games.

• Washington, D.C. is a hotspot of cultural exchange, at folk festivals and on the street.
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September

• International Children’s Festival (www.artsfairfax.org): Sept. 13-14, 2008:  Held at Wolf Trap Center for the Performing Arts in Virginia, this festival celebrates the cultural heritage of children from around the world through art displays, music, performances and interactive activities. Last year, more than 80 performers from countries including Bolivia, Nepal, Spain and Sweden participated. Our kids are particularly inspired watching children performers, which last year included acrobats and tap dancers, but they’ve also enjoyed marvelous storytellers and hands-on arts projects. There are usually four stages of entertainment, and in 2007 the festival added a hands-on technology pavilion. Tickets are $12, children 2 and under are free.

December

• National Christmas Tree Lighting and Pageant of Peace (www.nps.gov): For three weeks in December until Jan. 1, the lighting of the National Christmas Tree, located on the ellipse outside the White House, is celebrated with musical performances during a Pageant of Peace. Surrounding the primary tree are 56 decorated trees which represent the country’s 50 states, five territories and, of course, the District of Columbia. To walk along the “Pathway of Peace” and be surrounded by the holiday glow from the trees while listening to glorious holiday carols is a true Washington, D.C., holiday experience.