Experience cultures of the world at International Festival
Flamenco, Irish and Greek dancers will be among entertainers at the International Festival on Saturday, Feb. 26, at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge.
A special guest from Ireland, musician and singer Fionan Casey, will join the band, The Missing Goats, performing traditional Irish music at the festival.
The family-friendly International Festival will present entertainment, crafts and cuisines from many countries, with musical and dance entertainment on stage throughout the day and crafts for children to make and take home. The festival will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, at the Children’s Museum, 461 West Outer Drive, Oak Ridge.
The Missing Goats include Steve Reddick on guitar and harmonica, Mary Tuskan on mandolin, and Tom Beehan, former Oak Ridge mayor, on banjo. J.T. Coleman, a bluegrass bass player and another special guest of the band, will join them.
Casey, who plays guitar and sings, has performed in venues and pubs in the Ring of Kerry and County Wexford in Ireland. He has played with the band Ardú, and he hosts a casual music session in Sneem, Ireland, in the summer.
Other entertainers include Pasión Flamenca, performing flamenco and Spanish folk dances; the St. George Greek Dancers from St. George Greek Orthodox Church; the Tennessee Irish Dancers; Belladance, with family friendly belly dancing; and Nicole Baird on bagpipes.
Among activities during the day will be:
Crafts for children to make and take home, including a spin drum, a Panamanian mola and a llama craft.
Postage stamps from many countries available for collecting in the Craft & Science Room, hosted by the Knoxville Philatelic Society.
Opportunities to learn Morse code and how to communicate with other countries through amateur radio, hosted by the Oak Ridge Amateur Radio Club in the Discovery Lab.
Visits to the model train layouts of the Knoxville Area Model Railroaders in the World of Trains exhibit.
Food vendors will have dishes from many countries available to purchase. They include Pastelito’s Cuban Bakery, with pastries, desserts and cookies; St. George Greek Desserts; Delicias Bolivianas, with cheese empanadas and salteñas with chicken and meat; Anya’s Gone Nuts, with nuts, cotton candy, gourmet brittles and more; Mucho Gusto Food Truck, with tacos; Handmade Toffee & Treats; Tennessee Irish Dancers, offering Irish whiskey cake; and Sons of Norway, with lefse.
Hola Hora Latina, an organization promoting unity by creating bridges between the Hispanic/LatinX communities and the community at large through art, culture, education and leadership, will host a booth. Chris Harris Light will have a booth with her photography and jewelry. State Farm agent Anntionette Crowell will host a booth, and the Children’s Museum will have international dolls for sale.
The International Festival is supported by the Tennessee Arts Commission. Online tickets are available for a 20% discount at $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, and $6 for children ages 3 to 17, with a small surcharge, at this site: https://bit.ly/CMORIF2022.
Admission to the International Festival at the door is $12 for adults, $11 for seniors, $10 for children 3 to 17. Children 2 and under are free. Children’s Museum members have free admission with proof of membership at the door. The Museum’s mask policy will be in effect while festival goers are inside the building. Masks are required for everyone ages 5 and older and are recommended for ages 3 to 4. Masks are not required for children ages 2 and younger. Dedicated areas inside the Museum will be available for eating.
For more information, call the Children’s Museum at (865) 482-1074, or see the Children’s Museum website at http://childrensmuseumofoakridge.org.
This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Experience cultures of the world at International Festival
