What This Story Is About
- The annual HOLA Festival returned to World’s Fair Park in downtown Knoxville, featuring Latin American food, live music, dancing and cultural performances.
Why It Matters
- The festival has grown from a gathering of 15 people at the University of Tennessee into an annual celebration that organizers say brings together multiple cultures and international communities in Knoxville.
- The festival continues until 10 p.m. Saturday at World’s Fair Park.
For Context
- Organizers said the festival continued despite rain Saturday morning. Admission is $4 for anyone 12 and older.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – The annual HOLA Festival returned to World’s Fair Park, bringing Latin American food, live music and dancing to downtown Knoxville. A rainy day did not stop the event from continuing.
Visitors could explore food vendors, shop handmade goods and watch live cultural performances throughout the day.
From 15 people to a citywide celebration
Anderson Maldonado, the event’s master of ceremonies, said the festival started years ago and began with 15 people in a hallway at the University of Tennessee.
“It means a lot, because even I see the city of Knoxville with different international people here, it’s not about HoLa people, Spanish people, it’s international,” Maldonado said. “And I see so many cultures together, bring a lot of people together every year. And I see, since I’ve been doing this right here in HoLa festival, I see the excitement, the happiness of people, you know. And it’s been a beautiful, beautiful time doing HoLa festivals every year as it goes by.”…