Knoxville Opera Rossini Festival International Street Fair
The Knoxville Opera 18th Annual Rossini Festival International Street Fair will be taking in Downtown Knoxville. The streets will be filled with a European-style pedestrian street mall featuring 100 prominent artisans to shop from, cuisine from dozens of food vendors, and 11 consecutive hours of live entertainment including 45 performances by 750 artists featuring opera, jazz, ethnic music, gospel, modern and ethnic dance, ballet, vocal and instrumental ensembles. This celebration of the arts is the largest community engagement event of Knoxville Opera’s season. Given legacy status by Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero, the Rossini Festival is the only such free-admission one-day arts festival in the country.
Kids will have a blast at the YMCA FunZone, packed with hours of exciting play for kids of all ages. Five dollars lets a youngster play all day, and the first 100 will receive a bike helmet courtesy of the Epilepsy Foundation.
This year’s four stages include:
Pilot Flying J Opera & Choral Stage on Church Avenue
YMCA Dance Stage on Market Square
Krutch Park Extension Instrumental Music Stage
Market Street Music Stage
“There is something for everyone at Rossini,” said Knoxville Opera Executive and Artistic Director Brian Salesky. Rossini is one of East Tennessee’s most unique cultural festivals and celebrations. It is so massive that more than 200 volunteers are needed to help produce this fantastic event. Over the past 17 years, well over 500,000 people have come out, rain or shine, to experience Knoxville Opera’s joyous celebration of the arts.
In the fan favorite Beer Garden, the quartet of Cool Beans, West Hills and Central Flats and Taps, and SoKno Taco Cantina will be serving regional brews along with their signature flatbreads and tacos. Starting at 8:00 p.m. the crowd will be dancing into the night to the beat of the ever-popular Knoxville Jazz Orchestra in Krutch Park Extension.
For more information, including the complete Entertainment Schedule, map of vendors and exhibitors, and short videos illustrating the Festival’s entertainment, art, and refreshments, visit www.RossiniFestival.org.
Open to students outside of Knox County? YES
Advance reservations required? NO
Contact: 865-524-0795