What was the official name of the Smithsonian’s 12-week summer program at the 1976 Bicentennial?

The Smithsonian’s 12-week summer program at the 1976 Bicentennial was the Bicentennial Festival of American Folklife.

The festival took place on the western part of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. It brought together scholars, folk artisans, performers, and communities to present American and international traditions. Programs were held five days a week during the summer of 1976.

Rather than focusing only on famous political events, the festival emphasized living traditions, including music, crafts, foodways, storytelling, work practices, and regional customs. This approach broadened the Bicentennial beyond monuments and military history.

The program was a collaboration involving the Smithsonian Institution and thousands of participants. Its scale made it one of the major cultural projects associated with the anniversary. It is sometimes confused with the Smithsonian’s separate exhibition recreating aspects of the 1876 Centennial Exposition.