Spice of India dancers will perform traditional Indian dances on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, at the Children’s Museum International Festival. (Photo by Rob Welton)
The Oak Ridge International Folk Dancers will join entertainers representing cultures around the world when the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge hosts its annual International Festival on Saturday, February 23.
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, a press release said. The festival entertainment will be from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. February 23 at the Children’s Museum at 461 West Outer Drive in Oak Ridge.
Crafts that children may make and take include crocodile masks, an Egyptian necklace, and a French flag, the press release said. They may also learn about collecting international postage stamps and take their own passport around the festival booths to have it stamped and get a prize.
Other performers include Trollkresten Scandinavian Dancers, Knoxville Pipes and Drums, Tennessee Irish Dancers, Ms. Mahagi with Japanese Guitar, Elza Gate, Lucia’s Arte Y Pasión Flamenca Dancers, National Martial Arts, Spice of India dancers, Meraki Greek Dancers from St. George Greek Orthodox Church, and Debka and the Oasis Dancers.
Elza Gate, a duo that performs traditional mountain music and bluegrass, will be the festival’s closing performers. The Missing Goats, a pub band that entertains with Irish, Scottish, and Appalachian songs and tunes, will perform in the Appalachian Exhibit.
Children and adults will be invited to participate with the Oak Ridge International Folk Dancers after they perform a few dances, the press release said. The group dances village dances from throughout Europe, China, Russia, Mexico, South Africa, and Japan. Among arts and crafts demonstrations will be basket weaving by Fox Hollow Creations in the Museum’s Appalachian Exhibit.
Food vendors will have dishes from more than a dozen countries available to purchase. They include Sassy Pants Sweets and Treats, Kumi Alderman with Knox Asian Festival, Razzleberry’s Ice Cream Lab and Kitchen, Mediterranean Delight, St. George Greek Desserts, Empanadas Bolivianas, Anya’s Gone Nuts, Jamaican Sunrise, Cubish Cuban, Papa Murphy’s Pizza, Hibachi Pizza of Oliver Springs, Bewitchen Kitchen, and Homemade Toffee & Treats.
Hosting cultural, craft, and information booths will be Nuestros Niῆos, a nonprofit offering Guatemalan crafts; Sons of Norway; Shigeko Uppuluri with Japanese origami; Knox Asian Festival; National Martial Arts; Lilla Rose Stylists; Tennessee Irish Dancers; Hampton Wood Carvings; Noon Day Collections; and the Oak Ridge Amateur Radio Club.
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.
The International Festival is supported by the Tennessee Arts Commission and the Arts Fund for East Tennessee, a fund of the East Tennessee Foundation. International Festival sponsors include Joseph Construction, Mayfield Diary, and Fox & Fogerty Realty. The Anderson County Sheriff’s Office is assisting with the event.
Admission to the International Festival is $12 for adults, $11 for seniors, $10 for children 3-17, and $1 off each category for museum members. The event is free for children 2 and under. For more information, call the Children’s Museum at (865) 482-1074, or see the Children’s Museum web site at www.childrensmuseumofoakridge.org.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
This press release was submitted by Kay Brookshire.
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