By COLLETTE CAPRARA
FOR THE FREE LANCE-STAR The staff at the Smithsonian Institution are as excited as area residents are that the long-standing Folklife Festival is returning to the National Mall in Washington.The widely popular and informative event was launched in 1967 with a goal of sparking curiosity, understanding and delight, as well as an appreciation for a spectrum of cultures from around the world and within our country, with attendance that has reached 750,000. Though its presence on the Mall was on hiatus for the past two years, many of its programs and demonstrations were accessible virtually.
