Let's Get It On: What's Happening this Weekend?

So, the last weeks have been crazy good in the city. The streets, shops and restaurants have been packed. Events have been tumbling all over each other. And all the while, the weather has gotten closer and closer to perfect. In times past, this coming weekend would signal absolutely nothing but a football game for the Big Orange. It isn't first Friday and with a football game in town, who would be dumb enough to schedule anything, right?

That, my friends, was the old Knoxville. This weekend will be like virtually every other weekend in the city: packed with too many hoices to possibly cover them all. I'll mention some of the ones that jump out at me, but be sure to check out the sources linked on the right, particularly Blue Gill's Pond and Metropulse which helped me compile my selections for the weekend.

Here are some highlights, though I'm sure it only scratches the surface:

Friday, September 30

• Blue Mother Tupelo and the John Meyers Band - Noon at WDVX (Free)
• Movies on the Square - Star Trek (2009) - Pets are encouraged to attend. Pre-movie activities begin at 6:30 PM and include many activities for dogs, microchiping ($10) and a demonstration by the Smoky Mountain Service Dogs (Free)
• WDVX-Traveganza - Boyd's Jig and Reel: 6:00 - 9:00 - Fundraiser featuring food, drink, R.B. Morris, Robinella, Y'uns and more ($100)

Saturday, October 1

• Farmer's Market: Market Square 9:00 - 2:00
• The Madisons/R.J. Jeffers - Noon at WDVX (Free)
• Edwin McCain - The Square Room, 8:00 PM
• Tim Lee 3: Pilot Light 10:00 PM

Sunday, October 2

• Making Strides Against Breast Cancer: 5K Run/Walk - Plaza of the Civic Auditorium 12:00 
• Blessing of the Animals Church Street United Methodist 3:30 to 4:15
• Tommy Emmanuel at the Tennessee Theatre 

I'll give an extra plug to the Blessing of the Animals, which is a really special event at Church Street United Methodist. Pets of all species and sizes are welcome. I went to last year's event and it was like seeing St. Francis come to life as the ministers in their (very St. Augustine) robes interacted with the pets and said a few words acknowledging how important furry friends (and slimy, feathered, etc.) are to so many people. It's pretty special and you are welcome to simply show up with your animal friend and join in or come see the beautiful animals and enjoy a special moment celebrating their contributions to our lives.

Hola Festival 2011: Pinata Finale

Pinata in better times - Hola Festival 2011, Knoxville

The pinatas were not actually the finale, but they were the last thing I was able to attend. Urban Toddler has her limits and there was a little football game I was interested in watching. So, I missed the dancing and the music, which kills me, but what are you going to do?

Pinatas too, Hola Festival 2011, Knoxville

The pinatas were fun shapes - at least I think they were all pinatas - the spider, watermelon and jack-o-lantern didn't get hoisted up and beaten to death while I was present, so I suppose they could have been something else. The one with the cones extending in all directions seems to be more traditional.

First Blows to the Pinata - check out the girl's expression in the background!

Determined, cute, but not a match for the mighty pinata.

The kids, of course had a great time and, as always, they were precious going at it, the boys a bit more viciously than the girls, I think. Urban Toddler didn't quite know what to make of the whole affair. I'm not sure she's been in a situation where she was given the green-light to pound something pretty with a big stick, so she looked on a bit in awe and a bit in horror.

Young man does the first damage - Hola Festival Pinata, Knoxville

Once the candy hit the ground, she couldn't seem to wrap her head around the mass of bodies that dove onto the pavement. The one thing she did understand: a very thoughtful young girl handed her the first tootsie roll of her young life, which she proceeded to enjoy with great relish. Thank you to the kind young girl who paused in her accumulation of sweets long enough to notice the wide-eyed toddler looking on. Muchas gracias hasta el próximo año.

Going for the gold - candy after the pinata bursts.

Hola Festival 2011, Parade of Nations, Part 2

Parade of Nations, Hola Festival 2011, Knoxville

Mariachi Band, Hola Festival, Knoxville

As promised, here are more of the great sights from the Hola Festival, Parade of Nations. To the best of my knowledge, I don't have an ounce of Latin blood, but it fills me with pride to see people so happy about their country of origin.

Hola Festival 2011

Hola Festival 2011

Parade of Nations, Hola Festival 2011, Knoxville

The best analogy I have in my own experience is a trip I made to Japan a number of years ago. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and found the culture to be fascinating and admirable in many ways. I stayed with a Japanese family for a week and when the time came to leave I teared up. Still, a few days later in Tokyo, as I walked through a back-street food market, I heard the unmistakable sounds of Emmylou Harris singing the "Tennessee Waltz." I nearly cried.

Parade of Nations, Hola Festival 2011, Knoxville

Hola Festival 2011

Hola Festival 2011

I've never been so proud of the place where I lived. It wasn't about any disregard for the place I was visiting, but there is something about the first place that ever meant "home." There's nothing like it. That's what I see in the Parade of Nations: People having one small chance outside their daily lives to raise a glass or lift a cheer for "home," and who among us can't relate to that?

Hola Festival 2011, Knoxville

Hola Festival 2011, Knoxville

Hola Festival 2011, Knoxville

I hope you enjoy the pictures and feel a little of the joy of this marvelous day in the city.

Parade of Nations, Hola Festival 2011, Knoxville

Parade of Nations, Hola Festival 2011, Knoxville

Hola Festival 2011

Hola Festival 2011

Hola Festival 2011, Parade of Nations, Part 1

Dora the Expolorer, Parade of Nations, Hola Festival, Knoxville

Parade of Nations, Hola Festival 2011, Knoxville,

The centerpiece of the Hola Festival is the Parade of Nations. Many nations are represented and present something of the varieties of dress from their homeland. It is a proud and sometimes emotional moment for the families of the representatives and for the people whose origins lie within the respective country. In some cases the costumes represent traditional attire and in others it seems to be more a representation of current culture.

Parade of Nations, Hola Festival 2011, Knoxville

Lovely Lady, Parade of Nations, Hola Festival 2011, Knoxville

Manly boy, Hola Festival 2011, Knoxville

Flags fly, the country's name is announced and the crowd cheers. Dresses are flailed about. Children or adults, chin up, smiling, face the crowd triumphally. It is very moving and uplifting to see so many people so proud of their roots.

Hola Festival 2011, Knoxville

Children in the Parade of Nations, Hola Festival 2011, Knoxville

Shy boy, pretty girls, Hola Festival 2011, Knoxville

It is also very colorful. I took nearly two hundred pictures at the festival. Of course, I often could not  seem my display to determine what, precisely, I was shooting, and many of the photographs didn't make the cut. Still, there are enough that I'll overload two blog posts and leave the talking mostly to the photographs.

Hola Festival 2011, Regas Square, Knoxville

Hola Festival 2011, Regas Square, Knoxville

One thing I did a poor job of this year was keeping up with the various countries and connecting them to the photographs I took. Maybe readers can help identify which country is represented in which photograph. I hope you enjoy them. If you do, come back, tomorrow will be another round of the same delightful color splashes and photogenic smiles.

Hola Festival 2011, Knoxville

Hola Festival 2011, Knoxville

Hola Festival 2011, Parade of Nations, Knoxville

Parade of Nations, Hola Festival 2011, Knoxville

Parade of Nations, Hola Festival 2011, Knoxville

Hola Festival 2011, Knoxville

Hola Festival 2011, Knoxville

Parade of Nations, Hola Festival 2011, Knoxville

Hola Festival 2011 Highlights a jam-packed weekend in the City

Entrance to Hola Festival 2011, Regas Square, Knoxville

Hola Festival 2011 viewed from the Gay Street Viaduct, Knoxville

This was one of those weekends in which far too much happened to take it all in. Painful choices had to be made. Alison Krauss played the the Tennessee Theatre both Saturday night and Sunday night which was the beginning of five straight sold out shows at the Tennessee, with Widespread Panic taking over the venue for three shows Monday through Wednesday. A Lantern Tour was offered for Old Gray Cemetery featuring reinactors and a bit out of downtown Greek Fest ran all weekend at the Greek Orthodox Church. Knox Heritage held their annual Scruffy City Soiree at the foundry. And those are the things I didn't make it to.

Vendors lined the streets (and Dora greeted guests)

Art for sale at the 2011 Hola Festival, Knoxville

In the heart of the city on Saturday people milled about or ran about in every direction. The Farmer's Market, which is shifting from vegetables to crafts, though there is still plenty to eat, was as crowded as I remember anytime this summer. Couples had pictures made in the park. A dog show encamped on Krutch Park Annex and Big Brothers Big Sisters had a fun event throughout the city. I'll have more about those events in a later post.

Panamanian Booth at the Hola Festival 2011, Knoxville

Urban Toddler in awe - It's Dora! Also pictured, Urban Daughter and Urban Guy

The centerpiece of the weekend for me was the Hola Festival, which is sponsored by Hora Hola Latina. It has moved around a bit in recent years, being held on Market Square for a couple of years, on the one hundred block of Gay Street last year and this year on Regas Square. I hope it has found it's long-term home. I thought the spot was excellent and indications are strong that the center city is moving in that direction, so that should help in coming years. I do think the crowd was smaller particularly early in the day and location may have been a factor.

Cuba was well represented at the Hola Festival 2011

Gorgeous couple at the Hola Festival 2011

The Hola Festival simply cannot be contained in one post, so there will be at least a couple more throughout the week. Next up I'll post pictures of the Parade of Nations, which is easily the most beautiful part of the Festival. That alone may require a couple of posts.

Urban Toddler keeping it cool at the Hola Festival.