Have no fear-it's not a sudden, secret memorial to Strom Thurmond. It's part of the Scottish portion of this year's Smithsonian Folklife Festival, an annual event that brings a taste of a variety of cultures to the National Mall in Washington D.C. Each year focuses on three cultures-sometimes countries, but sometimes broader-themed ethnic or geographic groups-including an American representative. In this, it's 37th year, the festival examines Appalachia and Mali along with Scotland.
From music to arts to crafts to food, the festival aims to give visitors a close-up look at what makes each region unique. It runs for several blocks across the entire Mall, with plenty of tents featuring artisans from the region and plenty of interpretative material to help visitors understand more about what they are watching or doing.
Besides the opportunity to check out a small golf green, the Scotland area invites visitors to learn about knitting, basketry, curling, kilts and even North Sea oil. Of course there is a Scottish kitchen, and also a special tent focused on the famed Scotch whiskey. Learn about Appalachian railroad workers, try some barbecue, or play horseshoes in the Appalachian area. The Mali area focuses on everything from jewelry to leathercraft, and from incense to traditional medicine.
One of the highlights of the festival is the wide variety of traditional music performed all day long on several stages. Just today, for example, the Appalachia area will feature Appalachian bluegrass, gospel and coal mining songs, and old-time banjo. Over in the Mali area, several masked dance groups will perform, a group will perform Somono music with puppets, there will be Fulani pastoral music, and another group will perform Tuareg music with a sword dance. Scotland will feature bagpipes, Scottish fiddle, children's songs, and even Scottish women's songs about Scottish men. Many of the artists' recordings are available in the extensive gift shop that the Smithsonian sets up for this occasion.
And, of course, another highlight is the delicious food prepared at three food tents-one for each area. Skip the vendors that set up shop around the Mall and make your way to one of the tents for a taste of Appalachian barbeque, Malian cuisine, and even some Scottish haggis, if you're brave.
For more information on the festival, visit the Smithsonian Folklife Festival website, which offers a detailed schedule events and a festival map that will be helpful as you plan your visit to the event. All events are free, and the Festival generally runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Sunday and again from July 2-6. There are also special concerts in the evening, generally from 5-9 p.m. The closest metro station is the Smithsonian station, but note that that station will be closed on July 4. Other close stations are Federal Triangle and Archives/Navy Memorial.
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