TH Tip: Folklife Festival

The Texas Folklife Festival, hosted annually by the Institute of Texan Cultures (ITC) in San Antonio, celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2011. The ITC is halfway through its exhibit honoring this anniversary with a look back on the past few decades of the festival’s continued success. The exhibit, which began on April 30, 2011, features images, sounds, artifacts and stories recounting the festival’s history. Festival participants will continue to hold companion events at the Institute through August 26 to accompany the presentation.

O.T. Baker modeled the Texas Folklife Festival after a similar celebration held by the Smithsonian in 1968. The first festival for Texas occurred September 7-10, 1972, on the ITC’s grounds in HemisFair Park.

You can find the Institute of Texan Cultures at 801 E. Cesar E. Chavez Blvd. in San Antonio. The exhibit is open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Call 210/458-2300; www.texancultures.com/visit/. —Claire Ronner