Three of the last four festivals have included an exhibit on some aspect of the U.S. government. In 2008, one of the three themes centered on NASA. Maybe for all the excitement of seeing astronauts and pieces of moon rock up close, no one really bothered to complain that NASA isn't really a folk culture—at least in the sense that Bhutan or the state of Texas (the other exhibits that year) are.

Last year, one of the festival’s exhibits was the Smithsonian itself—as if visitors couldn’t learn all they needed to know about the Smithsonian by reading the back of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival pamphlet, or walking 50 meters in any direction to the nearest museum.

This year, the Peace Corps exhibit was a slight improvement. Tucked behind the main stages were a series of exhibit booths examining how Peace Corps volunteers and locals have somehow improved various nations’ quality of life. One volunteer found a way to build schools in Guatemala out of recycled soda bottles, while another volunteer from El Salvador showed off a self-sustainable outdoor oven. Not everything worked: In one tent, Peace Corps veterans could write messages to the countries where they were stationed. Another tent hosted class reunions of former volunteers—more of a private function than anything appealing to the general public.

The exhibit had another problem: It felt like a recruiting fair. And that’s sort of what it was, the corps’ director Aaron Williams told the Associated Press.

The Peace Corps kicked in $895,000 of the festival's $5 million budget, about half of which is provided by the Smithsonian itself, The Washington Post recently reported. Colombia's tourism and culture ministry also contributed a big chunk to the Colombian exhibits. Approximately 30 percent of the festival's budget comes from licensing, revenue, and donations. But Folklife spokeswoman Becky Haberacker says funding has been "more of a challenge," meaning exhibits increasingly have to come with willing sponsors.

But does it matter? Asked whether these exhibits stretch the definition of folk culture, Haberacker says, “I don’t think that there is only one type of folk culture necessarily. As you grow as an organization over a period of time, you do things in a shared way and provide a sense of culture." Of the Peace Corps exhibit, she says, “The program is looking at it as a cultural exchange between the people who went to the countries, the cultures from the countries they went to, and the stories they have to tell about it.”

Certainly, organizations like NASA contain their own cultures, and the Peace Corps touches on many others, but the exhibit mostly suffered from feeling haphazard. While the Colombian and Rhythm & Blues exhibits were strong and engaging, a Ukrainian dance troupe performing as part of the Peace Corps display probably would’ve been a better fit for, well, a Folklife Festival spotlight on the Ukraine.

Tonight: 12 Angry Men at the Artisphere
Cable news anchors smarting over yesterday's not-guilty verdict in the Florida trial of Casey Anthony would do well to sit down with Sidney Lumet's 1957 directorial debut. The dozen anonymous citizens chosen to deliberate over an unseen murder are far more than a "kooky jury." For 96 minutes, Lumet traps us in the jury room, forcing us to weigh life, death, bigotries, and character assassinations on the road to the objective truth. Lee J. Cobb's bloodthirsty Juror No. 3 would have found plenty of compatriots in yesterday's live-from-the-courthouse-steps fits of outrage. Juror No. 8 (Henry Fonda) would have been chased off the airwaves by screamers who confuse contemplativeness with leniency. Lumet, who died in April at 86, is being remembered with a four-film retrospective at the Artisphere beginning with 12 Angry Men.
Screens at 8 p.m. at the Artisphere, 1101 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington. $6. (703) 875-1100.

Thursday: Hijos de Kennedy at the National Museum of Natural History
As part of its 50th anniversary celebration, the Peace Corps is partnering with the Smithsonian's Folklife Festival this month, which has been filling the National Mall with exhibits highlighting Colombia, rhythm and blues, and the Peace Corps. The Maureen Orth-produced Hijos de Kennedy captures two out of the three themes, documenting the experiences of Peace Corps volunteers in Colombia. Orth served in Colombia in 1966 alongside Sam Farr, now a Democratic congressman from California.
Screens at 6 p.m. at the National Museum of Natural History, 10th Street and Constitution Ave NW. Free. (202) 633-1000

Sunday: The Fly at American City Diner
David Cronenberg says he never intended his 1986 film to be received as a parable for the rise of the AIDS epidemic, but when this tale of romance and body horror opened, it was seen by many as an analogy for the isolation and hopelessness HIV-positive patients endured when the disease was just becoming commonly known. With or without any hidden meaning, The Fly was instantly required viewing for makeup artists, creature designers, and any other filmmakers interested in pushing the limits of human appearance. The journey of Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum)—eventually "Brundlefly" (Goldblum under increasing layers of makeup)—is creepy, romantic, and ultimately heartbreaking.
Screens at 8 p.m. at American City Diner, 5532 Connecticut Ave NW. Free (202) 244-1949

The 44th annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival came to a close yesterday. As I noted earlier, due to financial reasons, this was the smallest Folklife Fest ever, but it remains a well-curated, exciting event. It could be publicized better, but for those who did attend, there were unique things worth seeing.

I spent much of the final hot day under the tents of the Mexico portion of the event. My main south-of-the-border highlight was the Son de Madera Trio, a son jarocho band from Veracruz whose speedy and rhythmic picking on their small guitarlike instruments—-a guitara de son (a type of  requinto) and a jarana—sounded best when accompanying the group's dancer, who tapped and slapped her shoes on top of a wood platform. Their high-pitched strumming immediately brought  “La Bamba” to mind, and sure enough they later played it.  The guys in the group were all over today—on two stages and in a tent,  making new requintos, alongside others making instruments.

The Chinelos de Atlatlahucan (pictured up top) are a carnival-like troupe of costumed dancers and a marching band. While the drummers and horn section are lively and loud,  live the music often lacked the funkiness of New Orleans brass bands and the groove of Brazilian samba outfits. With the dancers they were still fun, but the music was sometimes dissonant, stiff, and repetitive.

Los Verdaderos Caporales de Apatzingán feature a harp, two fiddles,  a vihuela,  and a jarana. They also chant and sing rural-feeling rancheras and mariachilike slow dance numbers.

The one YouTube video I had seen of Hamac Caziim suggested it wasan avante-garde Mexican rock band with artsy vocals and unusual time signatures. Yesterday they came across like a mid-'80s hardcore-meets-metal band with Central American Indian vocals. The group's emphasis on power undoubtedly scared many festgoers; the tent quickly felt pretty empty. It could use more creative arrangements and  varied tempos in its set.

Mariachi Tradicional Los Tios played yesterday without it guitarist and dancer(they were sick). Their polkas and waltzes weren't bad, but they felt less than full without, well, the full group. Oh, and while the traditional food at the fest is always overpriced, the etote, Mexican corn-on-the cob with spices and mayo, sure was tasty.

My hat is off to the Smithsonian Folklife festival for booking Haitian band Boukman Ecksperyans last weekend, plus various Mexican outfits who rarely if ever play D.C. and lots of locally based Asian American music and dance groups who seldom perform before non-Asian local audiences. While I understand that financial restrictions prevent the fest from also incorporating a U.S. state as it did in years past, it's a shame the Smithsonian does not market the event better to various local audiences. The Smithsonian likes to boast about how many thousands come to the fest each summer, but there were a lot of empty seats under some tents on this Monday government holiday. While a daily listing of events appeared in the Washington Post Style section each day, there did not appear to be any mention of the Festival on the websites Kesta and Eventoslatinos.us, which have Latino concert calendars, or in the Washington Hispanic newspaper. With Mexico as a theme, one would have expected a larger turnout from the local Latino community.  Also, despite my efforts, the fest still appears to be viewed by many local Anglos as simply an event for tourists and aging hippie Peace Corps types. The Folklife Festival's press team needs to work on that as well.

The birthday weekend of this immigrant-built country includes a number of gigs featuring immigrants and other international visitors. The Smithsonian Folklife Festival continues through Monday and spotlights a number of traditional Mexican groups as well as area-based Asian-Americans. The Mexican groups that may prove most  interesting are Chinelos de Atlatlahucan, a costumed Mardi Gras/Indian-type ensemble that dances and struts around accompanied by a brass band, and Grupo de Fandango de Artesa Los Quilamos from the southern coastal region of Oaxaca, who combine indigenous, African, and Spanish elements. Both perform a number of times through Monday. Sulu DC will showcase performances by local Asian artsy types Saturday evening.  At the clubs one can find reggaeton, moombahton, reggae, U.K. folk, and more.  See a list of events after the break.

FRIDAY

Smithsonian Folklife Festival starting at 11 a.m.

Bio Ritmo for free at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden 5 to 8:30 p.m.  This Richmond-area salsa band heads up 95 again for another D.C. date.

Los Cardencheros de Sapioriz, Chinelos de Atlatlahucan, Los Verdaderos Caporales de Apatzingán from 6:30 to 9 p.m. for free at the El Salón de México Stage of the Smithsonian Folklife fest. A cappella, Mexican Mardi Gras parade brass, and big harp music respectively.

Moneytown At Little Miss Whiskey's, 1104 H St NE

(between N 11th St & N 12th St). DJ Nightkrawler spins funk and soul records.

SATURDAY

Smithsonian Folklife Festival starting at 11 a.m.

Gregory Isaacs at Zanzibar On the Waterfront. Jamaican singing legend.

Arcangel (pictured) at DC Star Nightclub, 135 Queens Chapel Rd. NE.  This son of a Dominican mother and a Puerto Rican father is an exciting 20-something reggaeton artist with a speedy, suave flow.

DJ Dave Nada's Tormento Tropical at  U Street Music Hall. DC..’s Nada has become known now for spinning hipster cumbia, moombahton, and other international beat-based sounds.

The Unthanks at Iota. Lush U.K. harmony folk.

Ralph Rinzler Memorial Concert, featuring bluegrass by Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard, plus Bernice Johnson Reagon (from Sweet Honey in the Rock) from 6 to 8 p.m. on the National Mall at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

Sulu DC are underground Asian-American, D.C.-area performance artists, musicians, and poets who will display their skills from 6 to 8 p.m. onstage at the Smithsonian Folklife Fest.

DJs Stylus, Meistro, and Jahsonic at Sol Power at Dahlak (1771 U St. NW) with sounds from Africa, Brazil, and beyond. Free before 11 p.m.; $5 after 11 p.m. Music starts at 10 p.m.

SUNDAY

Smithsonian Folklife Festival starting at 11 a.m.

La Maquina del El Salvador at Fast Eddie's, 6220 Richmond Highway, Alexandria, Va.

El Gringo de la Bachata at Galaxy Night Club, 2031A University Blvd, Hyattsville, Md.

Dhol Beat International at Ibiza Nightclub, 1222 First St. NE. Asian-Indian.

MONDAY

Smithsonian Folklife Festival starting at 11 a.m.

Singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Lily Bee; the all-female band Ivy Rose; and the Dhoonya Dance Performance Company performing a variety of South Asian dance styles for free (and webcast) from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage.

Fri. June 25 –

Nguyen Dinh Nghia (a Vietnamese-American flautist), the Korean American Cultural Arts Foundation, the Nepal Dance School, and two Laotian American groups, LAWA and the Swan Dance Group,  plus from Mexico Chinelos de Atlatlahucan,  Son de Madera Trío and more between 11 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. for free at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall.  Skipping out from work to see Chinelos from 2 to 3 p.m. is recommended—they are a  carnivalesque dance troupe with boisterous horns and percussion who are often costumed in velvet gowns and tall head dresses meant to mock  Spanish colonizers of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

An evening Filipino concert will feature FIL-AM Dance Ensemble and Northern Virginia Rondalla from 6 to 8 pm at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

An evening Mexican concert will feature Mariachi Tradicional Los Tíos (from El Manguito, a remote community in the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains), Hamac Caziim (artsy offbeat Native American/Mexican rock), and Grupo de Fandango de Artesa Los Quilamos (Mexican music from the southern coastal region of Oaxaca that combines indigenous, African, and Spanish elements) from 6:30 to 9 pm at the Smithsonian Folklife Fest.

Tinariwen w/ Miles Seaton (Akron/Family), and Geologist (Animal Collective) doing a dj set at the 930 Club.  Tinariwen,  Tuaregs from the Malian portion of the Saharan desert, offer mesmerizing droning guitar.

DC Carnival 2010 weekend concert with Machel Montano; HD & Friends; Patrice Roberts; Farmer Nappy; JW & Blaze ; and more plus jugglers and soundsystems from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. at RFK Stadium, 2400 East Capitol Avenue. 1-888-703-5366. $30.    Montano is an awesome Trinidadian soca bandleader and vocalist whose band adds some  rock and r’n’b to their soca.

Richie Feelings (Jamaican reggae vocalist ) plus DJ Ablaze, Upsetta, Sonic 71,Lexus Superior, at Gees Night Club, 3415 52nd Street, Cheverly, MD 301-685-3530 & 202-520-9405

Brazil Docs Documentary Movie Fest at E. St. Theatre, 555 11th St NW ($5 each) to July 1st (these Portuguese language films with subtitles repeat each day).  The schedule includes  The Music Tree (2009) today at 12 noon (this film is about the endangered pernambuco wood – used in the manufacturing of  violin, cello, and violas);  Mysteries of Samba (2008)  at 2 p.m. (this film includes musician Marisa Monte interviewing legendary samba school members) ; Beyond Ipanema (2009) at 6 p.m. (this film includes  vibrant  Brazilian bossa and tropicalia performances and way too many  American rockers talking about Brazilian music); and Mestre Bimba: The Enlightened Capoeira (2007) (a film on the Brazilian art of capoeira).

Soundclash 8th Anniversary (D.C. DJs spin old-school reggae and ska records once a month) at the Marx Cafe, 3203 Mt. Pleasant St, NW from 10 pm to 3 am. Free.

Pitbull at Six Flags, 13710 Central Ave, Upper Marlboro, MD , (301) 390-2413.  Pitbull’s catchy and repetitively simple  “I Know You Want Me (1,2,3,4)” is one of the most-watched videos on YouTube.

Sat. June 26 –

D.C. Caribbean Carnival parade (11 a.m. on Saturday), featuring marching steel bands, dancing groups, and booming beats, starts at Georgia and Missouri Avenues NW and marches down Georgia to Banneker Field, at Georgia Avenue and Barry Place, near Howard University, followed by a ticketed concert with JW & Blaze; 2010 TnT Soca & Road March Monarchs; plus soca vet  Iwer George; Edley Shine of Born Jamericans and more from 3 to 7 p.m.  at Carnival City in Banneker Park, Georgia Avenue and Barry Place, NW.  $10.

Special evening Smithsonian Folklife festival Concert-"A Tribute to Haiti" featuring Haitian combo Boukman Eksperyans, with special guest Tines Salvant for free from 6 to 8 on the National Mall. Boukman is a powerful funky band.

The Chinese American Washington Guzheng Ensemble and Japanese American Washington Toho Koto Society plus two percussion and performance groups (Burmese Americans Kabyalut and Sikh Americans from the Kaur Foundation) will perform between  11 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. for free at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall.

Magnolia Sisters at 8:30 (Cajun and waltz lessons @ 7:30) at Glen Echo, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, MD.  The Sisters use their gorgeous voices on Cajun and swing and include Ann Savoy.

2010 DC Carnival Blue & White Soca & Chutney Explosion featuring Terry Gajral, Adrian Dutchin, Jumo, Shelly G, Pojo, The Supertones Band; DJ Flex, Bobby's Music Machine, Shiloh International, Selecta Avalanche at The Hampton Conference Center, 207 W. Hampton Place, Capitol Heights, MD 240-770-8937

Pasatono Orquesta, a Mixtec band from Oaxaca, Mexico for free from 6 to 7 (and webcast) at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage.

Eat, Drink and Be Merry in 1950s-60s D.C.: A panel discussion, slideshow, and oral history presentation with the photos of Emil Press from  2:30 to 4 p.m. at the Historical Society of Washington DC, 801 K Street NW at Mount Vernon Square, WDC 20001.   Presented by Jeff Krulik. Free.  This is an encore of an earlier  conference panel discussion. As a hobby, Mr. Press shot nearly 4000 color slides of Washington DC between 1959 to 1979. Panelists—local writer Vance Garnett, longtime music fan Mike Baker and Washington Post "On The Town" columnist John Pagones (1959-65) will discuss old D.C. nightclubs and restaurants.

Carnival City 2010 Palance Saturday featuring Alison Hinds (great soca singer); JW & Blaze; Rikki Jai; Tallpree; Super Jigga; TC; Buffy; Caribbean Traffik Jam at the Crossroads, 4103 Baltimore Avenue, Bladensburg, MD

Soca Motion with performances By Destra Garcia; Fayann Lyons; Bunji Garlin;Edwin Yearwood; Pumpa and DJ's at the DC Star Club, 2135 Queens Chapel Rd NW

Robert Vargas (meringue) at Rio Restaurant & Lounge, 13501 Baltimore Ave, Laurel, MD. $15-$20.

Bio Ritmo (salsa); Cheik Hamal Diabate (Mali); and the No BS Brass Band at 9:30 at the Rock 'n'Roll  Hotel, 1353 H. St. NE. $12.

Serani (reggae) at Hogates, 800 Water St. SW

Brazilian drummer Duduka da Fonseca, Antonio Carlos Jobim's longtime singer Maucha, with bassist Leonardo Cioglio, Chuck Redd on vibes and Robert Redd on piano for an all-Brazilian concert entitled "The Brazilian's are Coming" from 7:30 to 10 for free at the Reston Town Center , 11921 Freedom Drive Reston, VA

Sun. June 27

DC Carnival Concert & Family Day Featuring the Alison Hinds Show (fine  Barbados vocalist) ; Rikki Jai; Rafrechi Haitian Band(from  Wash. DC);
Proverbs Reggae Band;  Spyda The DJ and more from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at at Banneker Park, Georgia Avenue and Barry Place  NW. $10.

Smithsonian Folklife Festival continues with Cambodian Buddhist Society, Wat Thai Temple, (Nepalese American) Himalayan Music Group, and (Indian American) Sutradhar Institute during the day followed by  an evening show from 5:30 to 7 with Halau Ho'omau, Hakka Association in Washington, Hakka TungFa Chorus of Greater Washington and  another evening show from 6 to 7:30 with Chanchona Los Hermanos Lovo and Los Reyes de Albuquerque.

Annual National Capital Barbecue Battle on Pennsylvania Ave. between 9th and 14th Sts NW with Cyril Neville and his band Tribe 13 from 6:15 to 7:30 pm on the Famous Dave's Music Stage, and Mother's Finest at around the same time on the Capitol Stage at Pennsylvania and 12th Street

• Eric Felten Jazz Orchestra. Blues Alley. $25.
• L.A. Guns w/ Mis-Fit, Tilt, Sinner’s Trail, Bitter Pill. Jaxx. $18/$20. +21.
• Sheryl Crow, Ari Hest. Filene Center at Wolf Trap. $30-$48.
• TheoryCast, ReVeL, Fight The Bear, Conshafter. Rock and Roll Hotel. $10. All ages.
• DC Summer Extravaganza w/ Tittsworth, Nadastrom, Will Eastman, Bobby Jae & Ken Lazee, Dmerit. 9:30 club. $10. All ages.
• Canda, Bobbie Allen, Mila Levine, Michelle Murray, Treevibes, Lulu Fall, Vox Pop, Lux Operon, Peter S. Pinocci, Liberated Muse, Rob Wolcott. Artomatic. (For more info, see our Artomatic Manual)

Saturday

• 40th Annual Smoke-In: Human Rights (HR of the Bad Brains), See-I, Christos, Telesma, The Package, The Omsteaders, J.B. Bevereley and The Wayward Drifters, and DJ Bedroom. 23rd and Constitution Avenue NW. Free.
• National Symphony Orchestra: “A Capitol Fourth.” US Capitol, West Lawn. Free.
• DJ Regal, Fort Knox Five, All Good Funk Alliance. Black Cat. $10. All ages.
• Independence Day Noon:30 Release Party w/ The Laughing Man, Achtung Panda, Ghost Light, DJ Natty Boom. Velvet Lounge. $3-$8. +21.
• DJ Dk. Cafe Saint Ex.
• NoiseHouse, BLOODSHOT, HeeBeeGeeBees, Jeremy Steinhaus, Machines of Living Death, Anil Rock, Copper Rose & Bone, Julie O., Fat Roberta, Princess of Controversy, C.O.M.P., Mother Courage, The Very Small, Mambo Sauce, Zip The Uncanny, Vmasta & Cortez, Glasgow Tunnel, The FiF. Artomatic.

Sunday

• Blues Jam with the Idle Americans. Bangkok Blues. Call for price.
• Jay Reatard, TV Smith. Black Cat. $12. All ages.
• The Scare, Energy, Fallen From The Sky, Ante Up, Debaser. Velvet Lounge. $8. +18.
• St. Croix Virgin Islands Reggae Tour 2009 w/ Batch, Ras Attitude, Empress Ima, Jah Empress. IOTA Club & Cafe. $12. +21.
• Smithsonian Folklife Festival: Only Men Aloud! Kennedy Center Millennium Stage. Free.
• Triple Staccs, Mzery Loves Company, Mary Battiata & LITTLE PINK, RC Rex & the Progressionals, SAW Showcase, Seth Barna, House of Echo, Rob Wolcott, Dark Electric Showcase II, Sesshin No-Fi, Sarah Fridrich. Artomatic.

"A Capitol Fourth" 2007 photo by boboroshi, Creative Commons Attribution License.

Over the years at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, I have seen and heard lots of great music—zydeco, DC sounds from Rare Essence and Fugazi, weird Bhutan horns, the Cambodian Ray Charles, amazing Malian music, country blues, rockabilly, and numerous Latin styles.  I have also seen many fascinating craftspeople and eaten a fair amount of exciting food (and ya gotta have the real lemonade and the giant pieces of watermelon).  For some reason though, a couple of people at another local DC website would have you believe that the event is nothing but a tedious ‘educational’ experience and a place to dump visiting relatives.  Do not believe that theory. 

The Festival is continuing through Sunday July 5.  This year includes Latin music, songs and culture from Wales, and "Giving Voice"-African-American spoken word, poetry, and classic r’n’b dj chatter.  I recently e-mailed one of the prime movers behind the fest, Daniel Sheehy, for a mid-fest update.  Daniel Sheehy is acting director of the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.  He is also a musician– he founded Mariachi Los Amigos in 1978, the Washington, D.C., area’s longest-existing mariachi ensemble.

1.  Washington City Paper-Were there any extra-special, unexpected in a good way highlights from the 1st week?

Daniel Sheehy: The Viva Colombia concert last night[Sunday June 28] attracted an overflow crowd to the Folkways Salon.  Three Colombian groups performed, shouts of viva Colombia filled the air, and the concert went to the last, joyful minute.  Some said it was the best SFF concert ever.
Also, the amazing human beatbox Christylez Bacon amazed audiences with his super-human sounds. See http://festival.si.edu/2009/video.aspx for more
2. Washington City Paper-I read some zydeco enthusiasts raving about La India Canela; was she pleased with the response from the audiences?

Daniel Sheehy: La India Canela is AMAZING, and her band is beyond belief (until you see/hear it).  She loved the DC audiences and wants to come back.

3.Washington City Paper-Are there special events coming up this week that you're especially looking forward to, and or think that readers should know about?

Daniel Sheehy: The Friday night concert features the Wales artistic giant Catrin Finch playing her electrified and electrifying harp, in contrast/harmony with the supersaturated intensity of Colombian, harp-driven Grupo Cimarron (pictured above) playing musica llanera (plains music).  They have twice toured together in Wales, and July 3 we will savor the distilled version of their two-year collaboration.

4. Washington City Paper- In the Washington Hispanic newspaper and El Commercio newspaper out of Manassas I saw huge ads for an upcoming Peruvian festival, and I saw some text about that as well; Similarly I have seen listings for all kinds of Spanish language music events online at Kesta Happenings DC;  But in none of those sources did I see any mention of the Folklife Festival.   How are you getting word out to the DC and Baltimore area Spanish-speaking community?

Daniel Sheehy: With budget limitations in the background, we have a volunteer team of PR people to get the word out.  Other headline current events have occupied most press attention of late, as I expect you know.

 
5.  Washington City Paper-In connection with the last question, Is the Smithsonian reaching out to all the various local demographics (old/young; different ethnicities, all races/economic classes via newspapers, websites, flyers in markets and restaurants, Facebook, twitter, word of mouth) or is the Festival becoming an event that is mostly just for visiting tourists?   Do budget issues play a role?

Daniel Sheehy: The issue of the festival outreach is not one of appealing to tourists versus local audiences.  The majority of attendees are local, engaged, and loyal.  Television and radio coverage have been robust for the Las Americas program.  A quick glance at the audience in the Las Americas program is encouraging in terms of the engagement with the greater DC Latino community.  Budget issues play a significant role; with a flusher budget, we could have expanded both programming and public impact.  Web presence has been enormous this year.  Visit http://festival.si.edu/2009/las_americas/index.aspx for more.
 
Festival hours on the National Mall are 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with special evening events on Thursday 7-2, Friday 7-3, and Sunday 7-5.