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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
Repeats July 4-6
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