Chicha! A Peruvian Dance Party in DC

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR

SMITHSONIAN at 8 makes a summer night even hotter with a Peruvian-style celebration at DC’s Blind Whino.

What’s chicha? It’s an urban music genre originating in Peru that combines a variety of global sounds like South American cumbiasand psychedelic surf guitars with local Andean melodies. It’s also the knockout style of neon poster art that exploded as chicha bands began to make their mark in the late 60s.

Say chicha today and you’re talking about a distinct and vibrant mix of color and sound that is unmistakably Peruvian.

Experience it all as Lima’s DJ Sabroso and local favorite DJ Kristy la rAt spin chicha beats. Sample Peruvian beers and pisco cocktails at the cash bar, and get a taste of the country from local food trucks like El Fuego. Try your hand at silk-screening with Peruvian chicha poster artist MONKY.

The evening is the perfect way to whet your cultural appetite for this year’s Smithsonian Folklife Festival (June 24–28 and July 1–5), which highlights Peruvian culture on the National Mall.

Cash bar; food available for purchase.

SPECIAL FEATURES FOR VIP TICKET-HOLDERS: Exclusive early access to the event from 7 to 8 p.m., and enjoy small bites, an open bar, and a sampling of Peruvian piscos, courtesy of Macchu Pisco.