Calendar of Events

Asian Culture Center of TN: 11th Knox Asian Festival

Category: Culinary arts, food, Dance, movement, Festivals, special events, Fine Crafts, Kids, family and Music

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/11th-annual-knox-asian-festival-tickets-876326364747

VIP Show (Sep 7th) VIP & Friend of Festival Members
Enjoy Ninja Show & take photos with them, Japanese Drum from Disney world show & Award winning Indian dance show
Paid Customers will receive the official T-shirt & Sep 8th General admission.

1 Day Ticket (Sep 8th) General Admission $3, FREE under 12 years old
3 stages of performances all day, Authentic foods, Passport program to travel 12 countries, Market Place

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 on Sep 7th, 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.

People who do not want to wait at the entrance on the Festival, We will have Pre-Check-in days on September 3rd 3PM -8PM at the Dicks Sporting goods at Western Mall. You can Pre-check in and receive the wristband. So you can just show it when you come in on the Festival day. NO waiting time.

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. Japanese Shamisen (Banjo) Music concert, Nepal Dance performance, Korean Fan Dancers from Atlanta GA, K-pop Dance, Dragon & Lion Dance by Wah Lum Kang Fu school, Nashville Tiko drum performance, Matsuriza Drum and Ninjya show is on 1:30PM and 4:30PM. 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. Thailand pavilion organize “Loy Krathong “ which is old festival that paid respect to the water sprit. You can float beautiful flower basket to pray. Japan Pavilion will have Green Tea Ceremony. Enjoy the Teahouse, which UTK students made. You also can wear summer kimono and take the photo. Indian Pavilion will organize Holi Festival, which is a popular, and significant Hindu festival celebrated as the Festival of Colors, Love, and spring. Vietnam Culture tent will have the sample of Vietnam French Coffee.

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 & serve senior citizens and other educational non -profits.
https://www.asianculturetn.org