Opening Ceremony of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival

Opening Ceremony of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival

WASHINGTON, June 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following media advisory was issued today by the Smithsonian Institution:

WHAT: Opening Ceremony of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival
WHEN: Wednesday, June 24

10:30 a.m. - noon (performances begin at 10:30 a.m.; remarks begin at 11 a.m.)

WHERE: Welsh Dragon stage
On the National Mall, in front of the Smithsonian Castle
SPEAKERS:
Wayne Clough, Secretary, Smithsonian Institution
Rt. Hon. Rhodri Morgan AM, First Minister for Wales

Kinshasha Holman Conwill, deputy director, National Museum of African American History and Culture, Smithsonian Institution

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.)
Eduardo Diaz, director, Smithsonian Latino Center

Richard Kurin, Under Secretary for History, Art, and Culture, Smithsonian Institution

Daniel Sheehy, acting director, Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage

Diana Parker, director, Smithsonian Folklife Festival

MUSIC: Performances by Smithsonian Folklife Festival participants

The Smithsonian Folklife Festival, held outdoors on the National Mall from June 24 to June 28 and July 1 to July 5, will feature three programs, "Giving Voice: The Power of Words in African American Culture," "Las Americas: Un mundo musical/The Americas: A Musical World" and "Wales Smithsonian Cymru."

The Festival opens to the public at noon Wednesday, June 24, following the opening ceremony. Members of the media are welcome to accompany speakers as they tour the Festival programs.

Festival hours are from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with concerts, dance parties and special events extending into most evenings.

REPORTERS: Please check in at the Festival press tent, located near the Smithsonian Metrorail stop.

Media Web site: http://newsdesk.si.edu/

Source: Smithsonian Institution

CONTACT: Becky Haberacker, +1-202-633-5183; cell +1-202-680-2042 or Amy
Kehs, +1-202-309-5543, both of the Smithsonian Institution

Web Site: http://newsdesk.si.edu/

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