The 2017 Smithsonian Folklife Festival is on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., between Seventh and Twelfth streets and in the Arts and Industries Building. Running June 29 to July 4 and July 6 to 9, the Festival is free of charge. Visitors should dress for hot and humid weather.
Getting Here
Planning a visit to the Festival? The Visit | Smithsonian page can help you plan your trip—from where to stay to what’s happening at the museums. For general Smithsonian visitor information, call 202.633.1000 (voice).
Parking around the National Mall is extremely limited, so visitors are advised to use public transportation. Smithsonian is the closest Metro station to the Festival site. L’Enfant Plaza, National Archives, and Federal Triangle stations are within a half-mile. For assistance planning the best Metro routes, especially during SafeTrack repairs, visitors can reference goDCgo.com.
For those who plan to drive to the Festival, we have teamed up with Parking Panda, the nationwide leader in online parking reservations, to make parking near the National Mall easier. View real-time availability and pricing at many locations, and select the best option for your trip.
Festival Hours
Festival hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with evening dance parties at 5:30 and circus performances most nights at 7 p.m.
Services for Visitors with Disabilities
We strive to make the Folklife Festival an accessible and inclusive environment for visitors of all abilities. For a complete list of services, see the Accessibility page.
First Aid
A First Aid station will be located on the Festival grounds, next to the Smithsonian Metro station.
Thunderstorms
In case of a severe rainstorm, visitors should go inside a museum during visiting hours. Summer rainstorms are usually brief, and often the Festival resumes operations within an hour or two. In the event of a thunderstorm, the Festival must close. Do not remain under a tent or a tree!
Restrooms and Telephones
There are outdoor facilities for members of the public, including visitors with disabilities, located near each of the program areas on the Mall. Additional restroom facilities are available in the museum buildings during visiting hours. Public telephones are available inside the National Museum of Natural History.
Lost and Found/Lost People
Lost items or family members should be brought to or picked up from the Volunteer Tent, near the Smithsonian Metro station.
