Friday–Sunday, March 31–April 2, 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
The three federally recognized Cherokee tribes—Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians—showcase the shared history and cultural lifeways of the Cherokee through storytelling, traditional flute music, weaponry, woodcarving, beadwork, traditional games, basket weaving, pottery demonstrations and music and dance performances.
Friday–Sunday, March 31–April 2, 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
The three federally recognized Cherokee tribes—Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians—showcase the shared history and cultural lifeways of the Cherokee through storytelling, traditional flute music, weaponry, woodcarving, beadwork, traditional games, basket weaving, pottery demonstrations and music and dance performances.
Saturday–Sunday, April 22–23, 10 a.m. –5:30 p.m.
From water scarcity to floods and erosion, Native nations are addressing climate change across Indian Country. Join the museum for a weekend of conversations, presentations and cultural displays that share how Indigenous communities are stepping forward with aggressive plans to protect their way of life.
Living Earth Festival 2023: Native Nations Confronting Climate Change
Saturday, April 22 and Sunday, April 23, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
From water scarcity to floods and erosion, Native nations are addressing climate change across Indian Country. During the Living Earth Festival, join the museum for a weekend of conversations, demonstrations, and artmaking to learn how Indigenous communities are stepping forward with aggressive plans to protect their ways of life.
Throughout the weekend, visitors can hear directly from Indigenous climate and agriculture experts as they discuss how their communities have always demonstrated respect for the Earth with sustainability in mind. Presenters show how traditional knowledge and practices are being adapted to a changing climate and feed the world’s growing population at the same time. Working artists will engage visitors in communal artmaking using found materials once destined for landfills to create new and unique works of art.
Saturday–Sunday, April 22–23, 10 a.m. –5:30 p.m.
From water scarcity to floods and erosion, Native nations are addressing climate change across Indian Country. Join the museum for a weekend of conversations, presentations and cultural displays that share how Indigenous communities are stepping forward with aggressive plans to protect their way of life.
Living Earth Festival 2023: Native Nations Confronting Climate Change
Saturday, April 22 and Sunday, April 23, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
From water scarcity to floods and erosion, Native nations are addressing climate change across Indian Country. During the Living Earth Festival, join the museum for a weekend of conversations, demonstrations, and artmaking to learn how Indigenous communities are stepping forward with aggressive plans to protect their ways of life.
Throughout the weekend, visitors can hear directly from Indigenous climate and agriculture experts as they discuss how their communities have always demonstrated respect for the Earth with sustainability in mind. Presenters show how traditional knowledge and practices are being adapted to a changing climate and feed the world’s growing population at the same time. Working artists will engage visitors in communal artmaking using found materials once destined for landfills to create new and unique works of art.
For those who did not receive an invitation to the Coronation of King Charles, III and Her Majesty The Queen Consort of the United Kingdom, slated for May 6 at Westminster Abbey, Fairmont Washington, D.C., Georgetown is holding a Coronation Garden Party. The event takes place on Saturday, May 6, honoring the Coronation. Beginning at 9:30am, in the hotel’s courtyard, guests will enjoy a ceremonial celebration featuring authentic Scottish bagpiper Duncan Moore, a champagne sabering and slices of a Royal Coronation Cake, fit for a King and a Queen Consort.
Executive Pastry Chef Claus Olsen will create an impressive, towering cake to honor the coronation, and will share slices with guests as they toast His Majesty and The Queen consort along with a taste of sabered champagne.
All guests donning festive hats or fascinators will be eligible to win prizes for most authentic, fabulous and over-the-top – prizes awarded at 11:30 am. Cocktails and Coronation fare will be available for purchase, and Life-sized cutouts of the Royals will create perfect photo opportunities. To register for Fairmont’s Royal Coronation Garden Party, please visit Eventbrite.
Michelin-honored Cantonese restaurant Tiger Fork and its sister bar Hi-Lawn present the “Mid-Autumn Night Market” – a traditional Chinese festival celebration – from September 20-21. They will transform the 1000-person rooftop atop Union Market into a lively two-day Hong Kong night market, decked out with illuminated lanterns, food stalls from guest chefs, pop-up shops from local artisans, cultural performances, late-night DJs, baijiu and sake bars, mooncakes and more, all to help raise funds for Hawaii disaster relief through World Central Kitchen.
Tiger Fork’s brand new executive chef Simon Lam (formerly head chef at Chang Chang) will cook savory street food-inspired fare alongside guest chefs/restaurants such as China Chilcano; Love, Makoto and Toimoi Bakery (with more to be announced soon) at food stands throughout the open-air rooftop.
Also known as the “mooncake festival,” no celebration is complete without its namesame sweets, and Toimoi Bakery will serve symbolic, creative mooncakes, while Tiger Fork will serve topping-adorned bubble waffles, and Yume Asian Fusion will sell homemade cookies in unique flavors combinations like ube cookies & cream, black sesame peanut butter cup, and miso walnut chip.
Guests can peruse specialty gifts and wares from pop-up market stalls throughout the celebration.
Festival drinkers will enjoy a special Baijiu + Sake Bar, pouring China’s national spirit, plus an assortment of sake, and other liquor, cocktails, beer and wine.
At 6pm nightly, cultural performances such as lion, ribbon and fan dancing will take place live on the lawn.
And DJs will keep the spirited energy going all night long, spinning tunes from 9pm to midnight.
The two-night festival supports a fantastic cause, raising funds to benefit Hawaii disaster relief through the event’s charity partner World Central Kitchen.
Tiger Fork’s Mid-Autumn Night Market is free to attend and open to the public, but RSVPs are highly recommended on Eventbrite. Donations to World Central Kitchen are encouraged and accepted throughout the event. All food, beverage and artisan crafts will sold a la carte, first-come, first-served. For more information, please visit https://www.eventbrite.
WHO: Tiger Fork & Chef Simon Lam
Hi-Lawn
China Chilcano
Love, Makoto
Toimoi Bakery
Yume Asian Fusion
World Central Kitchen
WHEN: Wednesday, September 20 & Thursday, September 21, 2023
6pm-midnight
WHERE: Hi-Lawn (on the rooftop of Union Market)
1309 5th St. NE
Washington, DC 20002
Michelin-honored Cantonese restaurant Tiger Fork and its sister bar Hi-Lawn present the “Mid-Autumn Night Market” – a traditional Chinese festival celebration – from September 20-21. They will transform the 1000-person rooftop atop Union Market into a lively two-day Hong Kong night market, decked out with illuminated lanterns, food stalls from guest chefs, pop-up shops from local artisans, cultural performances, late-night DJs, baijiu and sake bars, mooncakes and more, all to help raise funds for Hawaii disaster relief through World Central Kitchen.
Tiger Fork’s brand new executive chef Simon Lam (formerly head chef at Chang Chang) will cook savory street food-inspired fare alongside guest chefs/restaurants such as China Chilcano; Love, Makoto and Toimoi Bakery (with more to be announced soon) at food stands throughout the open-air rooftop.
Also known as the “mooncake festival,” no celebration is complete without its namesame sweets, and Toimoi Bakery will serve symbolic, creative mooncakes, while Tiger Fork will serve topping-adorned bubble waffles, and Yume Asian Fusion will sell homemade cookies in unique flavors combinations like ube cookies & cream, black sesame peanut butter cup, and miso walnut chip.
Guests can peruse specialty gifts and wares from pop-up market stalls throughout the celebration.
Festival drinkers will enjoy a special Baijiu + Sake Bar, pouring China’s national spirit, plus an assortment of sake, and other liquor, cocktails, beer and wine.
At 6pm nightly, cultural performances such as lion, ribbon and fan dancing will take place live on the lawn.
And DJs will keep the spirited energy going all night long, spinning tunes from 9pm to midnight.
The two-night festival supports a fantastic cause, raising funds to benefit Hawaii disaster relief through the event’s charity partner World Central Kitchen.
Tiger Fork’s Mid-Autumn Night Market is free to attend and open to the public, but RSVPs are highly recommended on Eventbrite. Donations to World Central Kitchen are encouraged and accepted throughout the event. All food, beverage and artisan crafts will sold a la carte, first-come, first-served. For more information, please visit https://www.eventbrite.
WHO: Tiger Fork & Chef Simon Lam
Hi-Lawn
China Chilcano
Love, Makoto
Toimoi Bakery
Yume Asian Fusion
World Central Kitchen
WHEN: Wednesday, September 20 & Thursday, September 21, 2023
6pm-midnight
WHERE: Hi-Lawn (on the rooftop of Union Market)
1309 5th St. NE
Washington, DC 20002
Taking over the National Mall Friday, September 29 through Sunday, October 1, the 2023 World Culture Festival is expected to be the largest gathering in the nation’s capital this year, featuring the largest stage area ever built on the historic National Park property.
Over 250,000 visitors from every corner of the globe are expected to travel to Washington, D.C. to be a part of the World Culture Festival. Today, organizers already report 184,513 registered attendees who will join in-person along with an estimated broadcast audience of over one billion worldwide. Registrants to date represent:
- 60% from the capital region
- 91% from the United States representing all 50 states
- 4% from India
- 5% from 121 other countries, including Canada, United Kingdom, Argentina, United Arab Emirates, Australia, Thailand and South Africa.
Free registration and full Festival information can be found at https://wcf.artofliving.org.
Program Schedule
*All schedules are subject to change
Friday, September 29
12:00 pm – 6:00 pm: Festival Village
- A one-mile stretch between 7th St and 14th St NW, featuring over 75 cultural pavilions, activities including fashion showcases, and 80+ food trucks serving international cuisines.
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm: Main Stage World Culture Festival Showcase
Saturday, September 30
12:00 pm – 6:00 pm: Festival Village
5:00 pm – 9:00 pm: Main Stage World Culture Festival Showcase
Sunday, October 1
8:00 am – 9:00 am: Yoga Festival
10:00 am – 2:00 pm: Festival Village
10:00 am – 1:00 pm: Main Stage World Culture Festival Showcase
Performances
An initial lineup was announced today including over 8,000 individual stage performers representing an array of human cultural art forms from around the globe. The program features all U.S.-based artists presenting music, dance, and performance art from diverse Native American and American immigrant cultures. Among them:
LOCAL
- The acclaimed Showtime Band from Howard University
- A melody performance from the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC
- Pulsating beats and infectious energy of Washington’s iconic go-go bands including Junkyard Band, DJ Cool and Bela Dona Band.
- Traditional Gospel Choir with 1,000 singers – a performance by musicians from church and university choirs of 1KVoiceChoir
- Native American dance by 100 artists representing various tribes from the region perform to the powerful beats of live drums and other traditional instruments
- Traditional Mongolian Dance & Music with 100 Dancers – A vibrant and energetic dance highlighting the heritage and nomadic traditions of Mongolia
- Indonesian Dance by 100 Artists – A “wonderland dance of Indonesia” representing the country’s five main islands
- Irish Step Dance with 100 Dancers – Lively Irish dancers in traditional dress showcasing the rich traditions of the Emerald Isle
- Bolivian Folk Dance with 200 Dancers – Vibrant folk dancers of Bolivia present 4 kinds of traditional dances
- Nepalese dance with 150 artists in vibrant costumes, representing the spiritual traditions of Nepal
NATIONAL
- Global Guitar Ensemble with 1,000 guitarists playing popular sing-along classics with renowned lead guitarists, including Grammy-award winner Micki Free.
- Rhythms of reggae with Skip Marley, grandson of the legendary Bob Marley, and dancers representing the cultures of the Caribbean islands.
- One World Family Invocation – A 200-artists choir with Grammy nominated artist Chandrika Tandon
- Pop influencer Jini June performing alongside 200 children, spreading a message of harmony in song
- Amadou Kouyate and his djembe and kora orchestra, accompanied by 200 African dancers
- Kurtis Blow and other hip hop legends accompanied by 200 breakdancers, MCs, DJs and graffiti artists
- 10,000 Garba Dancers – representing a traditional folk dance of western India circle the National Mall in a spirit of celebration.
- Traditional Afghan Music & Sufi Whirling with 150 Artists – 130 musicians playing traditional instruments and singing captivating melodies along with 20 whirling dervishes
- Indian Classical Dance & Classical Symphony with 1000 Artists – Symphony of 300 instrumentalists including sitar, veena, tabla, mridangam, flute, ghatam and violin, plus 700 dancers performing a variety of classical Indian dance styles
- Latin American Dance Fusion with 200 Artists – Vibrant folk dancers representing the unique traditions of Colombia, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela
- Chinese Cultural Choir & Dance with 1,000 Artists – Chinese classical choir, classical dancers, dragons, & kung-fu in a fusion of music & movement
- Bulgarian Folk Dance by 300 Artists – 300 artists dance to the soul-stirring melodies of Bulgarian singers
- Ukrainian Dance by 200 Dancers and Choir – Exhilarating acrobatics and vibrant footwork of the hopak, a traditional Ukrainian dance
Activations
- The largest ever yoga event to take place on the National Mall, with over 2,000 instructors from various schools of yoga demonstrating a flow to more than 25,000 yoga enthusiasts. The event will be followed by a meditation led by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
- Over 80 food trucks will serve culturally expressive food and beverages from around the world. Some of the cuisines include Middle Eastern (Koshary Corner), French (Taste of Montreal), Latin-American (Arepa Zone), South Asian (Rangoli), Vegan/Plant Based (Soultarian), Indonesian (Sambal), Caribbean (Patty Party), West African (Kuks Tribute), Italian (Ciao Roma), Mexican (Mexicocina), Thai (Thai Pinto), British (Salt Pot Kitchen).
