The Smithsonian’s 1976 American Folklife Festival ran for 12 weeks.
The festival was expanded for the United States Bicentennial and took place from June 16 through September 6, 1976. It occupied the western part of the National Mall, south of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, and operated five days a week from Wednesday through Sunday.
Its unusually long run reflected the scale of the Bicentennial celebration. The program brought together thousands of scholars, performers, preservationists, craftspeople, and cultural practitioners. Visitors could see music, dance, storytelling, cooking demonstrations, crafts, and discussions representing American and international traditions.
The event was more than a historical reenactment. It presented living traditions and encouraged practitioners to explain their own work. The Smithsonian Folklife Festival continued in later years as an annual event, but the 1976 edition was distinctive for its 12-week duration and its connection to the national Bicentennial.