Over the weekend, World’s Fair Park hosted the International Food Festival, an annual fair that aimed to bring together various cultures across Knoxville through food. The festival took place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and represented authentic cuisine from nations around the world.
This year was the 17th year that the festival was held, and estimated to be its largest turnout according to the Knoxville News Sentinel. The event benefited Annoor Academy, private Islamic school in West Knoxville.
A tent was set up for each country where representatives served traditional meals including baklavas, samosas and various chicken dishes. The foods were so popular that most tents had at least one or two menu items that were completely sold out. However, food was not the only thing the festival had to share.
A bazaar sold goods at the event including small rugs and dresses from Middle Eastern cultures, Asian beauty products and more. The main stage remained busy with performers showcasing their traditional music styles and dances.
The main focus of the festival was, of course, food, but people of all ages came to share and enjoy cultures. Celina Hamdan, volunteer at the festival, spoke about what she took away from the event.
“It brings everyone together and opens people’s eyes to what kind of communities live in Knoxville,” Hamdan said. Hamdan has volunteered at the festival for several years and enjoys seeing people taste new foods and learn about the cultures that exist across the city. Hamdan also expressed her hopes that the fair continues for years to come so that the citizens of Knoxville can continue to learn from one another and become more accepting of each other.
Another mission of the International Food Festival is to bridge the social gap between different people in Knoxville and the country at large. The festival prides itself on diversity and hopes to connect each culture in Knoxville through food. The festival’s coordinator, Ghada Ayesh, reiterated this sentiment through her work and participation with the event.
“For me, (the festival) is a way of showing pride in who I am, and I am happy that I’m giving the opportunity for other people to do the same,” Ayesh said. Ayesh explained that the festival is a way for herself and fellow event organizers to bring Knoxvillians together so that they can embrace their identities and share that part of themselves with others.
Thousands of people gathered at this year’s festival to share and celebrate their own story with others in the community. Organizers and volunteers encourage new and returning attendees every year to help expand their mission of recognizing cultural backgrounds of everyone that call Knoxville home.
The International Food Festival held at World's Fair Park on Oct. 13, 2018 showcased a variety of cultures and foods.
