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The Smithsonian's annual Folklife Festival brings together hundreds of performers, artists, storytellers, craftspeople, cooks, and workers to explain, demonstrate, and celebrate their cultural traditions. This year's themes include: Bhutan: Land of the Thunder Dragon: Situated in the eastern Himalayas and bordered by China and India, Bhutan is an agrarian society where approximately 95% of its people practice traditional farming. To celebrate their special approach to life in the 21st century, more than 100 Bhutanese artists, dancers, craftspeople, cooks, carpenters, farmers, weavers, and representatives of monastic life demonstrate their living traditions that define and sustain their culture. NASA: Fifty Years and Beyond: To showcase the role NASA has played in broadening the horizons of American science and culture, a cross-section of its 18,000 employees and 40,000 contractors -- astronomers, astronauts, astrophysicists, educators, and engineers -- provide living presentations; hands-on educational activities; demonstrations of skills, techniques, and knowledge; narrative "oral history" sessions; and exhibits that explore the agency's spirit of innovation, discovery, and service. Texas: A Celebration of Music, Food, and Wine: The Lone Star State shares its proud history and contemporary traditions through its music, dance, and food. Hear presentations of Texas blues, swing, country and western, gospel, and tejano music; see demonstrations of wine making; and enjoy diverse culinary traditions from barbeque to Vietnamese specialties. Sponsored by the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage Program.
Free
Last day
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Celebrate the fourth of July with this musical narrative highlighting the life of one of America's favorite musicians George Gershwin, from his early Tin Pan Alley "piano-pounding" days to the Broadway stage, Hollywood, and more. Scripted and narrated by Portrait Gallery's Jewell Robinson, the musical features David Ylvisaker as Gershwin with singers Alvy Powell, Gina Watson Powell, Beverly Cosham, and Henry Fiske. Note: For reservations, call 202-633-8520 or e-mail NPGPublicPrograms@si.edu.
Free, but seating limited; for reservations, see Note
Repeats July 7
Related Exhibition: Edward Steichen: Portraits
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