11th Knox Asian Festival returns in September
The 11th Knox Asian Festival will make its return to World’s Fair Park on September 8, 2024, with a special “Friends of the Festival” VIP event occurring the evening before, on September 7th.
Taking place from 6PM until 9PM, the VIP event will be a magical night of performances featuring this year’s special guests, the ASHURA ninja corps from the Ninja Museum of Iga-ryu. As part of the first authentic ninjutsu demonstration in East Tennessee, these real-life ninjas will perform their incredible fighting skills and the ancient arts of one of Japan’s oldest ninja traditions. Also performing at the VIP event are returning fan favorites the Matsuriza Taiko Drum Troupe, as well as dancers from the Natyarpana Dance Company. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased. The cost of admission includes a festival t-shirt and all-day access to the festival the next day.
On the 8th, the 11th Annual Knox Asian Festival will begin at 10:30AM and end at 6PM. This year, the festival will charge a small fee to help cover costs and ensure the sustainability of the Knox Asian Festival and the Asian Culture Center of Tennessee, which remains a nonprofit organization dedicated to education and outreach. Admission will be $3.00 for visitors 12 years and up and free for children under 12. All entry gates will be cashless, so visitors are encouraged to purchase tickets ahead of time to expedite entry into the festival—tickets can be bought online at Eventbrite.
“Pre Check-in”
ACCT will host a Pre-Check-in Day on September 3rd 3PM – 8PM at the Dick’s House of Sport at West Town Mall. Those who have already purchased tickets can pre-check in and receive a wristband at this date. Present the wristband upon entry and skip the line!
As customary, the day will begin with the parade of nations, featuring representatives from over a dozen Asian countries. The parade will start at the splash pad fountains, traverse the Festival Lawn, and conclude at the Amphitheater stage.
Other performances throughout the day include the performers from the VIP event (including ninjas), as well as a variety of other acts, including gamelan musicians from Bali island Indonesia, Filipina singer Khay Shaw, and the Mabuhay Dancers, winners of the 2023 Atlanta, Georgia Philippine Independence Day cultural dance contest. There will also be Shamisen (Japanese banjo) demonstrations, Nepalese dancers, Korean Fan Dancers from Atlanta, K-pop dance demos, dragon & lion dances by Wah Lum Kung Fu school, and many more. There will also be a cosplay contest. Visitors will also be treated to over forty food vendors, dozens of arts and craft vendors, and activities for the whole family.
The popular passport program will also return, encouraging all to visit each country’s representative pavilions, collect stamps, and win prizes. The Thailand pavilion will feature “Loy Krathong”, a lantern festival dedicated to water spirits. Participants will be invited to float flower baskets in a traditional prayer ritual. The Japan Pavilion will host the popular Green Tea ceremony, featuring a mobile teahouse created by students from the University of Tennessee’s School of Interior Architecture. There will also be an opportunity to try on and model kimonos. The Indian pavilion will organize the Holi Festival, which is a popular, and significant Hindu festival celebrated as the Festival of Colors, Love, and Spring. The Vietnam culture tent will be handing out samples of coffee prepared in the traditional Vietnamese fashion.
ACCTN is currently still recruiting for the festival. Those interested are encouraged to apply through the Asian Festival website. We would also like to extend our gratitude to our generous sponsors: Hard Rock Cafe in Bristol, Knox County, Arts & Culture Alliance, Visit Knoxville, Tennessee Valley Authority, TN Arts Commission, The Boyd Foundation, DENSO, and more.
Proceeds from the Knox Asian Festival will fund year-round cultural outreach programs that help East Tennessee’s K-12 students grow up to be global citizens.
