Your trusted source

Washington D.C. is hosting the 2018 Smithsonian Folklife Festival that explores the creativity, hospitality and resilience of the Armenian people and its extensive diaspora through a rich slate of vibrant programming.

Asbarez daily reports the festival that started on June 27 will run through July 1 and July 4–July 8 on the National Mall between Seventh and 12th streets in Washington D.C.

Throughout the 10 days of the festival, dozens of artisans, designers, cooks and performers will share their skills and stories through workshops, demonstrations, participatory experiences, interactive installations and discussion sessions all highlighting the importance of cultural-heritage enterprise in the face of change.

The final day of the festival, July 8, happens to fall on the traditional holiday of Vardavar, which Armenians celebrate during the hot summer season by throwing water on each other to cool off.

To note, the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, which hosts the festival, got involved in Armenia in 2014 as part of the My Armenia project, which works with the local people to enhance cultural heritage sites there.