The annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival is an eccentric patchwork of history and culture. This year, the Smithsonian spotlights three topics on the National Mall: “Colombia: The Nature of Culture,” “The Peace Corps: 50 Years of Promoting World Peace and Friendship,” and “Rhythm and Blues: Tell It Like It Is.”

The Colombia section features over 100 artists and performers who have traveled to Washington. The Associated Press reports that Colombian Ambassador Gabriel Silva Lujan said, “They came from very, very far. Many of them had to travel days through rivers, jungles, plains, deserts to be here.”

The Peace Corps section reunites former volunteers and showcases cultures of countries where volunteers have been stationed.

The festival’s third section, in partnership with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, promotes rhythm and blues, featuring performances and discussions with artists who have shaped the history of doo-wop, soul, funk and urban blues.

If you need a culinary crutch, you can use Tim Carman’s, “A food snob’s guide to the Folklife Festival.”

The festival is located on the National Mall between 7th and 14th Streets. The free event is running through Monday and will run again July 7 through July 11.