Shamrock Road (Submitted photo)
The Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge will present entertainment, crafts, and cuisines from cultures around the world at its annual International Festival on Saturday, February 20.
Shamrock Road, a band specializing in Irish ballads, will be the featured performer for the international event. The family-friendly festival will feature musical and dance entertainment on stage throughout the day, international food and culture booths, and crafts for children to make and take home.
The festival will be from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. February 20 at the Children’s Museum, which is at 461 West Outer Drive in Oak Ridge.
Shamrock Road plays many old pub standards and contemporary ballads by such artists as Mary Black, Christy Moore, and U2. Two of the band members have lived in Ireland. Bob Morin, on vocals and 12-string guitar, lived in County Tipperary for several years. Steve Reddick, on vocals, banjo and harmonica, attended college in Cork City. Other band members are Mary Tuskan, on vocals, guitar, banjo and mandolin; Jake Alexander, on bass; and Amanda Morgan, on fiddle.
Frank Murphy, who hosts an afternoon show on 93.1 WNOX radio, will broadcast live from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the International Festival. Einstein Simplified, a comedy troupe that Murphy performs with, will entertain with its improvisational comedy.
Spice of India Dancers, a Knoxville troupe performing Indian classical and folk dances, will be among the performers. Other entertainers will be the Lucia’s Arte Y Pasion Flamenca dancers, the Starving Six German Band, the Secret City Squares square dancing group, SalsaKnox, a Latin dance company presenting interactive dance, and International Belly Dancing with Debka. National Martial Arts will present an interactive karate demonstration.
The Oak Ridge High School Choir will join the Oak Ridge High School Jazz Band in performing 1940s swing music. Allen McBride on hammered dulcimer will entertain in the Appalachian Exhibit. Fox Hollow Creations will present a basket weaving demonstration there.
Children will be invited to make and take crafts at craft stations during the festival. Children may make African masks, sailboats, shakers, fish wind socks, yarn dolls, and mosaic rainbows. Children will also learn origami at the Japanese booth.
Salsa Knox Dance Company (Submitted photo)
Food booths will have dishes available to purchase from Cuba, France, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Norway, and Poland, and sushi will be served. Razzleberry’s Café and Market will offer Polish cuisine, and Mediterranean Delight will serve Middle Eastern dishes. Two food trucks, Farm-to-Griddle Crepes and Jamamerican Jerk, will also offer international selections at the festival.
Hosting cultural booths will be Roane State International Education students, St. George Greek Orthodox Church, Nuestros Niῆos with Guatemalan crafts, A True Family of Hope with Haitian items, and Project Being There with Vietnamese items. Sherrie Carris, the museum’s resident clay artist, will host a booth with her pottery and present demonstrations in the pottery room.
Little Ponderosa Zoo and Rescue will bring animals with origins in international locations. The zoo, in Clinton, also participates in exotic animal rescue and conservation.
The Knoxville Area Model Railroaders will operate model trains at the World of Trains exhibit during the festival, and the Train Garden will be open, weather permitting. Royal Magic Events will offer Face Painting and balloon animals for a small fee.
The International Festival is funded under an agreement with the Tennessee Arts Commission. The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department is supporting the festival. Mayfield Dairy Farm is also supporting the festival and will bring the Mayfield cow to the festival. Y-12 Federal Credit Union is among the sponsors.
Admission to the International Festival is $12 for adults, $11 for seniors, $10 for children 3-18, and $1 off each category for museum members. For more information, call the Children’s Museum at (865) 482-1074, or see the Children’s Museum website at www.childrensmuseumofoakridge.org.
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