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Get Cultured: Naadam Festival

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SUNDAY: Want to expand your cultural horizons this weekend? Check out Arlington's Naadam Festival, a cultural celebration that hails from Mongolia. But it doesn't just feature traditional Central Asian crafts and music, you guys. The Mongolians are hardcore.

The celebration centers on three traditional sports: horse racing, archery and wrestling. So get ready for some intense physical competitions, right? Almost.

This is Arlington, so there won't be any archery. And the horse racing is interpreted as foot racing. But the wrestling is a legitimate wrestling competition and it should be thrilling to watch, if you're into that sort of thing.

Ourselves, we're stoked for the food. Mongolian beef is more delicious than just about anything, so be sure to munch as much as you can find. There will also be some traditional performances, including contortionists, that will make Naadam more than worth the trek to Virginia.

» Barcroft Park, 4200 S. Four Mile Run Drive; Sun., July 12, 12 p.m.-6 p.m., free; 703-395-0001.

Photo by Johnathan Erst/The Washington Post

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