Wales, African-American culture, Latin music at Smithsonian Folklife Festival

Smithsonian Folklife Festival June 24-28, July 1-5

WASHINGTON — Wales, Latin music and “The Power of Words in African American Culture” will be the themes of this summer’s Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

About a million people attend the annual event, which showcases cultural diversity. It is produced by the Smithsonian’s Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage and co-sponsored by the National Park Service. This year’s 10-day festival takes place outdoors on the National Mall in Washington between Seventh and 14th streets, June 24-June 28 and July 1-July 5. Admission is free. Festival hours run 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. with additional concerts, special events and dance parties most evenings.

The African-American oral tradition will be celebrated at the festival through theater, poetry, storytelling, and programs about the role of radio. The festival’s “Las Americas: Un Mundo Musical” theme will include performances of, among other styles, Puerto Rican bomba, plena, and jibaro music; mariachi and other music from various Mexican regions; Dominican merengue and bachata; Guatemalan marimba, and Salvadoran chanchona music.

“Wales Smithsonian Cymru” showcases Welsh culture and heritage with programs on literature, language, crafts, music and cooking. The programming will also look at Wales’ commitment to conserving natural resources and instituting zero-carbon sustainability requirements for all new buildings starting in 2011. (Cymru is the Welsh word for Wales.)

Details at www.festival.si.edu/.