Washington Folk Festival

The Washington Folk Festival returns to Glen Echo Park on Sunday, August 23, 2026, for a single-day celebration spanning six stages, hundreds of performers, food trucks, and a picnic area—all free of charge. Presented by the Folklore Society of Greater Washington in cooperation with the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture, the National Park Service, and Montgomery County, the festival offers a wide-ranging program of music, dance, and storytelling from American traditions such as bluegrass, Celtic, Americana, blues, and Zydeco, as well as international styles. This year’s edition introduces a Middle Eastern Spotlight developed with the Governor’s Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs, and a new Songs for All Ages stage dedicated to family programming. The festival runs from noon to 7:00pm, with free on-site parking and donations gratefully accepted.

When: Sunday, August 23, 2026, from 12:00pm to 7:00pm.

Venue: Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, MD 20812. Free parking in the main lot at 5801 Oxford Road; carpooling is encouraged. On-site parking only this year.

Price: Free. Donations are gratefully accepted.

Performers: The festival hosts dozens of acts across six stages. Highlights include Ardmore (Celtic-folk-bluegrass fusion); Bill Jenkins World of Music (interactive percussion for all ages); Blue Spruce (bluegrass with Hall of Fame bassist Tom Gray); Charlie Bryant (singer-songwriter covering love, loss, and existential dread); Collide (eclectic folk-pop); Djangolaya (Django Reinhardt-style hot club jazz); Donna Eleanor (Celtic and American fiddle); Eric Rice Johnston (Scottish bagpipes); Foggy Bottom Whomp-Stompers (prohibition-era jazz and Dixieland); Frog Hammer (English ceilidh dance); Furia Flamenca (flamenco dance); Gabrielle Zwi (folk pop and bossa nova); Group Mavi (Turkish music ensemble); Jane Dorfman (storytelling); Kylie Hilali and the Fez Tones (Middle Eastern hafla); Little Red and the Renegades (Zydeco, blues, New Orleans R&B); Lydia Martin (Appalachian old-time banjo); Marsha and the Positrons (kindie rock about science); Margaret Chatham (Australian folk tales); Mark Cox (storytelling); Maureen Andary (family-friendly folk); Munit Mesfin (Ethiopian-American jazz, soul, funk); Mutual Agreement (a cappella gospel); Piedmonsters (Piedmont blues-funky country); Raymi (Andean music); Rick Franklin & Tom Mindte (blues and bluegrass guitar/mandolin); Rock Creek Morris Women (English morris dance); Samovar (Russian and Ukrainian folk music); Sarv School (Persian music and culture); Silvana Clark (storytelling); Stormi and The Blue Skies (acoustic blues); Sunshine Skiffle Band (jugband ragtime); Swing Dance with Capitol Hillbillies (early jazz and New Orleans); Tim Livengood (lunar storytelling); Traditional Irish Dance with Culkin School and Lilt; Valeria Stewart (Latin-rooted multilingual folk); Washington Toho Koto Society (Japanese koto music).

New Middle Eastern Spotlight: Developed in partnership with the Governor’s Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs, this track features a Jewish Music Showcase, the Sarv School of Persian Music, Group Mavi from the DMV Turkish Music Ensemble, Humayun Khan with Whirling Dervishes, and Kylie Hilali & The Fez Tones, plus a halal Turkish food stand.

New Songs for All Ages Stage: A sixth stage offering family programming throughout the day, including Donna Elanor’s Tricorn Tales (interactive pirate-themed music and movement), Bill Jenkins World of Music (drum and percussion participation), and award-winning musician Maureen Andary. In the early evening, the stage presents “Liberty & Justice for All,” a segment of songs of conscience and hope from America’s freedom-music tradition.

Governor’s Citation: The 2026 Washington Folk Festival has received an official citation from Maryland Governor Wes Moore, recognizing the festival’s contribution to the state’s cultural life and its celebration of diverse communities.

Run time: 7 hours (12:00pm to 7:00pm).

Ages: All ages welcome. A family- and kid-friendly stage is dedicated to children and families.

Logistics: Free parking in the main lot; carpooling encouraged. Food trucks (twice as many as the previous year) and picnic tables are available. The festival is free because everyone—staff and performers—volunteers; volunteers are needed on festival day and can sign up online.

Note: This program is presented by the Folklore Society of Greater Washington, in cooperation with the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture, the National Park Service, and Montgomery County, Maryland. The festival has been a regional staple for over 40 years, celebrating folk music, dance, and craft.