WASHINGTON FOLK FESTIVAL

SIX STAGES, HUNDREDS OF PERFORMERS, FOOD TRUCKS, A PICNIC AREA, AND IT'S ALL FREE!

The Washington Folk Festival returns to the Park on Sunday, August 23, from 12:00pm to 7:00pm. Now a one-day event, expect a jam-packed roster full of dancing, storytelling, and music ranging from American to International styles. You’ll hear bluegrass, Celtic, Americana, blues, and Zydeco, as well as folk music from around the world including a special Middle Eastern track this year. Six stages, including a family-focused, kid-friendly dedicated area, hundreds of performers, food trucks (twice as many as last year!), picnic tables, and it’s all free! (Donations gratefully accepted.)

Learn More! Read the press release! >>

New Middle Eastern Spotlight

This year's festival introduces a Middle Eastern Spotlight, developed in partnership with the Governor's Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs, part of the Maryland Governor's Office of Community Initiatives. The Spotlight features a Jewish and Arabic Music Showcase; Group Mavi, made up of members of the DMV Turkish Music Ensemble; Humayun Khan; Zawash Shadmehr, an Iranian santour player; and Kylie Hilali & The Fez Tones, bringing a Middle Eastern hafla (party) featuring instruments such as the qanun, oud, riq, and darbuka. There will also be a halal Turkish food stand! 

New Songs for All Ages Stage

The festival is also debuting a sixth stage, Songs for All Ages, dedicated to programming for children and families throughout the day. The lineup includes Donna Elanor's Tricorn Tales with Compass Rose, an interactive pirate-themed music and movement adventure; Bill Jenkins World of Music, an all-hands-on drum and percussion experience Jenkins has led across the D.C. area for 30 years; and award-winning musician Maureen Andary. In the early evening, the stage will host a special segment, “Liberty & Justice for All,” featuring beloved songs of conscience and hope drawn from America's long tradition of music for freedom and unity.

Governor's Citation

The 2026 Washington Folk Festival has been honored with an official citation from Governor Wes Moore, recognizing the festival's contribution to Maryland's cultural life and its role in celebrating the state's diverse communities

 

Performers

Ardmore

Named for towns in both Ireland and Scotland, Ardmore (“great height”) burnishes traditional Celtic melodies with folk, bluegrass, and rock influences.

Bill Jenkins

World of Music Children of all ages -- come grab an instrument and be part of a real band composed of authentic Asian, African, and South American percussion instruments and create your own music!

Blue Spruce

Known for blending traditional and contemporary bluegrass with original songwriting, Blue Spruce notably features two-time Bluegrass Hall of Fame inductee and bassist Tom Gray.

Candice Wolf

Hello Humanity! Put bullies in their place and lift up the underdogs! Candace Wolf says it’s sometimes silly, sometimes scary.

Capitol Hillbillies: Swing Dance

The popular Capitol Hillbillies band brings their rollicking mix of early jazz, blues, and New Orleans spirit to the Glen Echo ballroom for a swing dance to remember.

Charlie Bryant

Singer-songwriter Charlie Bryant writes (and covers songs about love, loss, hope, bewilderment, wistful longing, busted romance, existential dread, and (of course) drinking.

Collide

The music of Collide is an alchemy of sound that is inviting, thoughtful, and fun, covering a wide swath of emotional ground from the personal to the political.

Djangolaya

Celebrate the hot club, jazz music of Django Reinhardt with Djangolaya, Washington area, acoustic musicians with the decidedly, European flare, promising beautiful music and dangerous rhythms.

Donna Eleanor

Fiddler, singer, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter Donna Elanor delights with her lively fiddle and vocal interpretations of traditional and modern Celtic and American folk music.

Eric Rice Johnston

Follow bagpipe musician Eric Rice in the park to an exploration of Scottish bagpipe music on big Highland pipes and intimate small pipes.

Foggy Bottom Morris Men

Since 1977, the "Foggs" have been bringing the living tradition of Morris Dancing to the DC Area. Expect ritual dances from the Cotswold region of England to pop up in interesting places around the park 

Foggy Bottom Whomp-Stompers

Enjoy the best part of speakeasy ambience with prohibition-era jazz favorites from the Foggy Bottom Whomp Stompers, delivering hot jazz, Dixieland, early swing, and blues.

Frog Hammer: Ceilidh Dance

High energy band Frog Hammer brings its exuberant talents to the Spanish Ballroom for a ceilidh dance, drawing music from the English ceilidh tradition.

Furia Flamenca

Be transported to sunny Andalusia as Furia Flamenca brings ferocity and passion to the stage. The dance group’s unique, elegant style of flamenco balances motion and energy.

Gabrielle Zwi

Actor, musician, and educator, Gabrielle Zwi masterfully performs folk pop and bossa nova in songs about love, identity, and the issues we collectively face. on, DC area who masterfully performs folk-pop and bossa nova in songs about love, identity, and the issues we collective xxxxxxx

Group Mavi

Group Mavi is comprised of members of the DMV Turkish Music Ensemble, a choir of music lovers who serve as cultural ambassadors embracing Atatürk's legacy of "Peace at Home, Peace in the World."

Humayun Khan

One of this generation’s most respected classical Afghan and North Indian musicians, Humayun Khan is known as a brilliant vocalist and harmonium player. His performance will feature young students from his academy.

James Hart

Mythic Adventures – James takes you through the woods, across icy plains, and down into the depths of the sea.

Jane Dorfman

Jack of all Trades – Jane Dorfman tells tales of the down-home hero, Jack.

Jesse Palidofsky

The soul filled originals of Jesse Palidofsky are filled with humor, a hunger for Justice and a big slice of the blues.

Kylie Hilali and the Fez Tones

Dance to the Middle Eastern hafla (party) of Kylie Hllali and the Fez Tones who play traditional instruments such as quanum, oud, riq, and darbuk. No experience necessary!

Liberty and Justice for All

Throughout history, songs have served as catalysts to bring about social change. In these challenging times, hear and join in on songs that can inspire us to keep working to make the world a better place. Host: Joe Uehlein, with Charlie Bean, Donna Fletcher, Mutual Agreement, Beth Pierce, Valeria Stewart, and Sweet Storm.

Lilt and Traditional Irish Dance

Enjoy the verve and excitement of traditional Irish music and dance with the Culkin School dancers, accompanied by Lilt on flute, tin whistle, and bouzouki.

Little Red and the Renegades

Showcasing Zydeco, blues, and New Orleans R&B, Little Red &the Renegades bring a vibrant blend of accordion and steel pan sounds, supported by a lively rhythm section.

Lydia Martin 

An award-winning banjo player, singer, and songwriter, Lydia Martin specializes in traditional Appalachian old-time music.

Lyuti Chushki: Bulgarian Dance

Jamie Platt leads Bulgarian dances to the music of Lyuti Chushki (“hot peppers”), taking you back to the old country with its unusual traditional instruments, complex dance rhythms and dissonant close harmonies.

Marsha and the Positrons

Sing and dance along with Marsha and the Positrons, a kindie (kids+indie rock) band specializing in fun, clever songs about science and how the world works, with a positive message that inspires curiosity.

Margaret Chatham

Tales from Down Under – Margaret Chapman has never visited Australia, but enjoys and will share some of the stories that have made it to our shores.

Mark Cox

The Hitchhiker – Mark Cox tells the story of an unusual pickup on a country road.

Maureen Andary

With humor, grace, and charm, award-winning musician Maureen Andary delights listeners of all ages with classic and original songs.

Michele Valeri

Traveling with Dinosaurs – Michele has spent her whole adult life traveling with dinosaurs, something not everyone gets to do.

Munit Mesfin

Ethiopian-American singer, songwriter, and teaching artist Munit Mesin weaves her Ethiopian roots into the jazz, soul, and funk she loves performing.

Music of Middle Eastern Jewish and Arabic Communities

Participants in this showcase either grew up in or fell in love with the music of these neighboring cultures. Charlie Baum moderates, with Laith AlAttar, Hazan David Evgey, Ahmed Karam, Rabbi Aaron Shneyer, Rabbi David Shneyer, and Assaf Suberry.

Mutual Agreement

A cappella male Gospel group Mutual Agreement uses traditional and contemporary chord arrangements, while preserving a musical art form that has played an important part in their musical heritage.

Paraguayan Harp

Hector Muñoz (harp) and Ulises Rodriguez (guitar) present Paraguayan music, playing the traditional arrangements of the Guaraní people.

Piedmonsters

Mingling their Piedmont blues roots with R&B, rock, country, ragtime, and jazz, the Piedmonsters create an exciting world of musical crossover they call “funky country.”

Raymi

Bringing the haunting sounds and mystic power of music from the Andes, Raymi combines traditional instruments such as zampoñas, mosceños, quenas, and tarkas with contemporary guitar and drums.

Rick Franklin & Tom Mindte

Musical sparks fly when blues guitarist Rick Franklin joins bluegrass mandolinist Tom Mindte. in a journey across musical genres.

Rishi Nixon

South Asian Folklore – Rishi Nixon tells of treasure and its tendency to unravel right and wrong in the struggles of gods and demons.

Samovar

Founded in 1966, Samovar Russian Folk Music Ensemble plays an extensive repertoire of Russian and Ukrainian folk music that features balalaikas and domras (tradirional Russian instruments).

Silvana Clark

Spacemen and Cheese Pizza – Silvana discovers not everyone appreciates her desire to change the world with Popsicle sticks, trash bags, and cardboard beards.

Stormi and The Blue Skies

Enjoy acoustic blues and more from this ensemble of talented musicians who met through the weekly jams at Archie Edwards Blues Heritage Foundation.

Sunshine Skiffle Band

Wrap up your day with the irresistible sounds of the Sunshine Skiffle Band, delighting Festival audiences since 1982 with jugband/ragtime/jazz tunesand on an array of instruments including washboard, gutbucket, and musical saw.

Tim Livengood

To the Moon! – Tim Livengood tells stories of the Moon, about the Moon, at the Moon.

Valeria Stewart

Multilingual Valeria Stewart brings a deep sense of cultural fusion to every song she writes, today featuring new songs and rhythms from her Latin roots.

Washington Toho Koto Society

Founded in 1971 by Director Kyoko Okamoto, the Washington Toho Koto Society performs Japanese traditional and classical music on six-foot long 13-string instruments creating a distinctive sound.

Zavash Shadmehr

On the santour (hammered dulcimer), Zavash Shadmehr plays original compositions inspired by traditional Persian music; Jalal Kimia adds percussion.

FREE parking in our main parking lot at 5801 Oxford Road. Search "Glen Echo Park Parking" in Google Maps. Find more information and a link to our Park Map here.

On-site parking only this year; carpooling is encouraged. 

This festival is free because everyone—from staff to performers—volunteers. We need your help on festival day. Be part of this great event and sign up to volunteer here!

This program is presented by the Folklore Society of Greater Washington, in cooperation with the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture, Inc., the National Park Service, and Montgomery County, MD.

The Washington Folk Festival at Glen Echo Park has been a staple of the region for more than 40 years. Beloved by many, this festival celebrating folk music, dance, and craft has brought thousands of visitors to the Park over the decades.  Learn More About FSGW

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