By: Brett Zongker, Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP).- Artists from remote sections of Colombia, Peace Corps volunteers and performers sharing the history of rhythm and blues music opened the Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall on Thursday. The free festival, which often draws more than a million visitors each year, runs through July 4 and again July 6-11. Each day includes performances and demonstrations on the mall, as well as evening concerts. To present the many facets of Colombia, more than 100 artists and performers traveled to Washington. Colombian Ambassador Gabriel Silva Lujan called it a “dream come true” for them to present their arts, culture and food in the U.S. capital. “They came from very, very far. Many of them had to travel days through rivers, jungles, plains, deserts to be here,”