KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Music, food, arts and culture brought people together at World’s Fair Park in Knoxville as the 26th HoLa Festival celebrated Hispanic and Latino heritage this weekend.
Organizers said 24 countries were represented at this year festival, giving visitors a chance to learn about the many cultures that fall under Hispanic and Latino heritage. Vendors shared art and food inspired by their home countries, and families moved between booths, performances and food lines through the day.
The festival is organized by HoLa Hora Latina, a group whose stated goal is to build bridges between the Hispanic and Latino community and the community at large. The event leader said the festival gives people a chance to recognize both their cultural differences and the things they have in common.
The timing is intentional. The festival falls during Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 through October 15, the stretch when many Latin American countries mark their independence from Spain.
World’s Fair Park, one of the city’s signature green spaces, sits on the grounds of the 1982 World’s Fair, formally the Knoxville International Energy Exposition. That fair drew 11 million visitors and brought the Sunsphere, which still towers over the park and the festival grounds today. The park sits at the edge of downtown Knoxville, which was Tennessee first state capital in 1796.
Food vendors were a centerpiece, with several stands serving dishes drawn from a mix of countries and traditions. Vendors told visitors the event is about acceptance and welcoming people regardless of background.
Through music, food and cultural experiences, the HoLa Festival continues to give Knoxville residents and visitors a way to celebrate heritage while bringing the community closer together.
