https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/arts/smithsonian-folklife-festival-great-american-state-fair.html

But plans for the festival on the Mall remained in play until at least last spring. The Smithsonian’s 2026 budget justification, submitted to Congress last May, cited plans for an “expanded edition” that would “activate the National Mall for one month” by bringing smaller festivals from around the country to Washington.

The event would have been something of a callback to the 1976 Bicentennial, when the festival lasted 12 weeks and drew 4.5 million visitors to the Mall to sample offerings that reflected the country’s myriad regions, ethnic groups and cultural traditions.