Thousands turned out to enjoy the 32nd Washington Folk Festival at historic Glen Echo Park on June 2-3.
The celebration of Washington's rich cultural diversity featured more than 450 American and international musicians, dancers, storytellers and crafters who live in the Washington area. With performances on seven stages, impromptu music jams in the picnic grove, and rides on the Dentzel carousel, there was something to delight young, old, and everyone in between.
Often dressed in colorful costumes, international performers from around the world shared the music, dance, and cultural traditions they brought with them from their home countries in Africa, Asia, Eastern and Western Europe, and South America. The festival also showcased uniquely American art forms such as bluegrass, blues, Cajun Zydeco, old-time string band, contemporary singer-songwriters, and swing.
Among the many highlights were performances by Grammy-winning artists Tom Paxton, Bill Danoff, Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer. and by Warner Williams, recipient of a National Heritage Fellowship. Other performers have received similar honors at the state level, including master fiddler Speedy Tolliver, West African dance company KanKouran, and Israeli storyteller Noa Baum.
