How one Glen Echo resident helped save the Washington Folk Festival
Free, volunteer-run event celebrates its 43rd year on Aug. 23
By
Jacqueline KalilAugust 12, 2026 4:47 p.m.
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For years, Ayan Kishore and his family planned their summers around the Washington Folk Festival.
After moving to the Glen Echo area from Atlanta more than a decade ago, Kishore stumbled upon the free event after spotting a banner advertising it. What he found was an eclectic celebration of music, dance and storytelling from cultures around the world.
“I was just floored by how amazing everyone was,” said Kishore, now 41. “Year after year we started circling the date and planning our summers around it, making sure that we’re here.”
So when the event was cancelled in 2024 due to volunteer shortages and organizational changes, Kishore stepped up and joined the board of the Folklore Society of Greater Washington (FSGW), which runs the event, despite having no background in music or event production. Kishore was instrumental in bringing the festival back in 2025 and again this year, with the event scheduled to run from noon to 7 p.m. on Aug. 23.
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“He’s super smart and super energized about the folk festival,” said Ingrid Gorman, who is co-chairing the festival with Kishore this year. “It’s so important to get new people involved and try to carry this into the future.”
That fresh perspective is evident throughout this year’s festival.
For the first time, organizers are introducing a Middle Eastern Spotlight in partnership with the Maryland Governor’s Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs. The showcase will feature Jewish, Persian, Turkish and other Middle Eastern musical traditions, reflecting the cultural diversity of the Washington region.
The festival is also adding a sixth stage, Songs for All Ages, dedicated to children and families. Interactive performances, hands-on music experiences and an evening finale, “Liberty & Justice for All,” are designed to introduce younger audiences to folk traditions while celebrating themes of hope, community and social justice.
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For Kishore, those additions are about more than expanding the lineup.
He hopes they will help ensure the festival continues to attract new generations while creating a welcoming space where people from different backgrounds can connect through music.
“The folk festival really provides this accessible opportunity for people of all different cultures to come and celebrate,” he said.
Admission will also continue to be free — a point of pride for festival founder Mia Gardner, who made accessibility a priority when she launched the event in 1977.
“That was the primary thing, was making it free so that anyone can attend. People don’t have to worry about, can they afford to pay for that family of five, six, whatever it may be, to enjoy the musicians,” Gardner told Bethesda Today.
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Organizing the festival now consumes what Kishore estimates is the equivalent of a part-time job. His day job is running the nonprofit Benetech, which makes reading accessible for those with disabilities and learning differences. While a core planning committee works year-round, the event ultimately depends on hundreds of volunteers.
Between performers, sound engineers, stage crews, emcees and day-of helpers, Kishore estimates that as many as 500 people donate their time to make the festival possible.
That volunteer spirit is what drew Gorman to the festival more than four decades ago.
After moving to the Washington area in the mid-1980s, Gorman responded to a newspaper article seeking volunteers. She started by helping raise the festival’s massive circus-style tents before joining the programming committee, serving on the FSGW board and eventually becoming festival co-chair with Kishore.
“It’s one of the most joyous, happy, rejuvenating events that I have been to in the D.C. area,” Gorman said.
Organizers are still looking for volunteers to help with everything from stage setup to performer check-in. Gorman said high school students can also earn Student Service Learning hours by volunteering.
For Kishore, helping preserve the festival has become a way to give back to the community that welcomed him years ago.
“If you haven’t been to the festival before,” he said, “you’re in for a magical experience.”
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Originally published at Bethesdamagazine