Smithsonian - Perishable Pundit

GENERAL FESTIVAL INFORMATIONFESTIVAL HOURSThe Opening Ceremony tor the Festivaltakes place at the Sounds ot the ForestMusic Stage at n a.m., Thursday, June 23.LOST & FOUND/LOST PEOPLELost items or family members should bebrought to or picked up from the Volunteer tentlocated near the Smithsonian Metro Station onThereafter, Festival hours aren a.m. tothe Mall at Jefferson Drive and 12th Street.5:30 p.m., with special evening events. Seethe schedule on pages 84-94 for details.FESTIVAL SALESVisitors may purchase Middle Eastern andother program-related lunches, snacks, anddinners from Festival food concessions. Avariety ot objects produced by Festival artisansand a selection of related books andrecordings will be available at the FestivalMarketplace on the Mall-side lawn ot theFreer Gallery ot Art. Smithsonian Folkwaysrecordings will also Lie available there.PRESSVisiting members of the press shouldregister at the Press tent located near theSmithsonian Metro Station on the Mallatjetterson Drive and 12th Street.FIRST AIDA first aid station is located near theSmithsonian Metro Station on the Mallat [etterson Drive and 12th Street.METRO STATIONSMetro trains will be running every day ot theFestival. The Festival site iseasily accessiblefrom the Smithsonian and Federal TriangleStations on the Blue and Orange Lines.SERVICES FOR VISITORSWITH DISABILITIESLarge-print and audio-cassette versions of thedaily schedule and audio-cassette versions ofthe program book and signs are available at theFestival Information kiosks and the Volunteertent. Other formats are available upon request.Volunteers are on call to assist wheelchair users.Audio loops to assist hard-ot-hearing visitors areinstalled at the music stages. Service animals arewelcome. American Sign Language interpretersare available on site; the Festival schedule indicateswhich performances and presentations areinterpreted (»5tíP). On Thursdays and Saturdays,programs in Food Culture ]SA\ l Beyond theMelting Pot tent will be captioned (oc).[8iRESTROOMS & TELEPHONESTHUNDERSTORMSThere are outdoor facilities tor the public andIncase of a severe rainstorm visitors shouldtor visitors with disabilities located near allof the program areas on the Mall. Additionalrestroom facilities are available in each of themuseum Laiildmgs during visiting hours. Publictelephones are available on the site, oppositethe National Museums of American Historyand Natural History, and inside the museums.go inside a museum. It museums are closed,visitors should go into the Metro Station.Summer rainstorms are usually brief, andoften the Festival resumes operations withinan hour or two. In the event ot a severethunderstorm the Festival must close.Do not remain under a tent or a tree!Inthe tradition of Omani hospitality, welcome to the Festival!GENERAL FESTIVAL INFORMATION