Celebrate Shakespeare’s birthday at the Folger with fun, family-friendly activities and birthday cupcakes for all! Make an Elizabethan ruff, watch sword-fighting and printing press demonstrations, write sonnets, and more.
Shakespeare's Birthday Lecture: "Shakespeare Beyond Relevance" with Dr. Farah Karim-Cooper
Join us for the Folger Institute’s annual Shakespeare’s Birthday Lecture with Dr. Farah Karim-Cooper, Director of the Folger Shakespeare Library, who will be accompanied by a special guest. Free registration is required to attend.
Folger Salon with Douglas Clark, Jamie Gemmell, and Patricia A. Matthew
Learn about research happening at the Folger in real time! Each month, Folger Institute scholar and artist fellows will share their most exciting finds and thought-provoking challenges, followed by casual open conversation.
Folger Consort Artistic Director Robert Eisenstein leads a lively virtual seminar that offers a sneak peek at the music performed in the Folger Consort’s upcoming "Kings and Commonwealth: The English Civil War."
The Folger Consort will perform political ballads of Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot, along with instrumental music from the royal courts of James I and Charles I reflecting the political and religious upheavals in early 17th-century England.
Join the Folger as we use our how-to guide to power playing and the words of Shakespeare to create our own spectacular production! Choose from two free workshops for ages 5-7 and ages 8-11.
Cocktails and Conversation: "A Springtime Revival" with Douglas Clark
Help the Folger bring a “lost play” back to life! Short-term Fellow Douglas Clark will share his exciting recent discovery—a handwritten English translation of a pastoral comedy set on a Greek island.
Folger Theatre’s 2025-2026 season includes three exceptional plays telling stories of struggle and power, love and romance, and personal journeys. Subscribe now to lock in great seats at a low price and enjoy subscriber benefits.
Explore our world-class collection and enjoy interactive experiences created for visitors of all ages and stages.
Our Shakespeare Exhibition Hall is devoted to the works of William Shakespeare then and there, here and now — including for the first time a display of all 82 copies of the Folger’s First Folios; and
In our Stuart and Mimi Rose Rare Book and Manuscript Exhibition Hall, you’ll discover exhibits of significant collection items that inspire the Folger’s work, deep dives into our vault, and special exhibitions.
Social climbing was a competitive sport in Tudor England, requiring a complex range of skills, strategies, and techniques. This exhibition explores what it takes to become an early modern mover and shaker.
Celebrate Shakespeare’s birthday at the Folger with fun, family-friendly activities and birthday cupcakes for all! Make an Elizabethan ruff, watch sword-fighting and printing press demonstrations, write sonnets, and more.
Join the Folger as we use our how-to guide to power playing and the words of Shakespeare to create our own spectacular production! Choose from two free workshops for ages 5-7 and ages 8-11.
Create and model the fashionable accessory that is the ruff! Join us for this free activity inspired by our temporary exhibition, “How to Be a Power Player: Tudor Edition."
The Folger Consort will perform political ballads of Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot, along with instrumental music from the royal courts of James I and Charles I reflecting the political and religious upheavals in early 17th-century England.
The 2025 Folger Gala is taking its inspiration from Shakespeare in America and a uniquely American art form: jazz. Join us for a night of great music and entertainment, and meet the Folger's new director, Dr. Farah Karim-Cooper.
Our Public Humanities program at the Folger brings together researchers and anyone with an interest in the early modern world to explore the cultures and legacies of that time. Learn about research happening at the Folger in real time, and enjoy cocktails inspired by the Folger’s rich collection of handwritten recipe books from early modern Britain—the largest in the world.
Shakespeare's Birthday Lecture: "Shakespeare Beyond Relevance" with Dr. Farah Karim-Cooper
Join us for the Folger Institute’s annual Shakespeare’s Birthday Lecture with Dr. Farah Karim-Cooper, Director of the Folger Shakespeare Library, who will be accompanied by a special guest. Free registration is required to attend.
Folger Salon with Douglas Clark, Jamie Gemmell, and Patricia A. Matthew
Learn about research happening at the Folger in real time! Each month, Folger Institute scholar and artist fellows will share their most exciting finds and thought-provoking challenges, followed by casual open conversation.
Cocktails and Conversation: "A Springtime Revival" with Douglas Clark
Help the Folger bring a “lost play” back to life! Short-term Fellow Douglas Clark will share his exciting recent discovery—a handwritten English translation of a pastoral comedy set on a Greek island.
Join us for trivia and drinks made with several easy-to-forage plants, including the dandelion and elderflower. We’ll also be jamming out with DJ and past Artist Fellow Amy Reid, whose unique music is made from plant vibrations.
Folger Salon with Mark Bland, Zainab Cheema, and Kate Doubler
Learn about research happening at the Folger in real time! Each month, Folger Institute scholar and artist fellows will share their most exciting finds and thought-provoking challenges, followed by casual open conversation.
Folger Salon with Maria Canon, Amy Cooper, and Carrington OBrion
Learn about research happening at the Folger in real time! Each month, Folger Institute scholar and artist fellows will share their most exciting finds and thought-provoking challenges, followed by casual open conversation.
