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, Dos

The Farragut High School Band, Hola Festival, Parade of Nations

Representing Latino-Americans at the Hola Festival

The children looked so beautiful and so sincere.

The Parade of Nations opened the festival at 11:00 AM. It would have been very helpful if this was made clear on the website. I knew there was a parade and I wanted to be there, but I had no idea when it would happen. I e-mailed and was referred to the website, so I went at 11:00 suspecting it might be early. It was great fun. An excellent MC who switched comfortably between Spanish and English introduced each of the countries as they paraded. First up was the Farragut High School Marching Band, which as I mentioned in the last post has a Spanish connection.

Urban Baby says, "I've got some snacks in my bag. Let me know when Diego shows up."

Diego!

Afterward, a number of countries paraded past with several people dressed in traditional clothing for that part of the Latin world. Of course, Diego made his initial appearance of the day in the parade. The pictures almost took themselves. Spectacular color and larger than life joy abounded. I hope you like them.