HoLa Hora Latina is proud to present the 2010 Hola Festival, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, October 9, at Knoxville's newly-inaugurated Art District in the 100 and 200 blocks of Gay Street. This event marks the eleventh year for the Hola Festival, and brings the excitement a little closer to home: the association's headquarters, known as "CASA HOLA," is housed in the district's Emporium Building.

HolaFestival.org The Hola Festival is a day-long celebration of diversity and a cultural salute to East Tennessee. Known for its educational value and rich mix of music, dance, food, arts and crafts, the Hola Festival also features the unique Parade of Nations. This visual treat highlights the varied and colorful costumes of Spain and Latin America. The Countries and Heritage exhibits give glimpses of their history, art, beauty and bounty, which students can sample as they take a "virtual tour" with their special Hola Festival Passport. Our goal is to emphasize the diversity of Latino culture. Only the Hola Festival gives you the opportunity to experience this rich and diverse Hispanic culture in a fun, friendly and educational environment. Come join us!

The entertainment includes musical performances by "Heberest" and "Zunimar," and at dusk, downtown Knoxville will be filled with the vibrant Caribbean music of "Orquesta MaCuba." The colorful folk dance performance of a 16-member Aztec ensemble"Danza Azteca Gualupana" will enchant the audience. Get ready to be swept off your feet by dancing exhibitions by "SalsaKnox," "Lucia's Baile y Pasion Flamenca," "KATS" and "Grupo Santa Cruz." Many of these local dance instructors will teach you a few steps at a Dance Station! These performances have been made possible by the generous financial support of the Tennessee Arts Commission.

Children's activities are a favorite of HoLa Festival! This year children can play a traditional "lotería" game, or listen to storyteller Oralia Lamas who joins us from San Antonio, Texas, to present "Semillitas de Aprendizaje", a learning-to-read program. Home Depot is sponsoring a children's workshop, and Children's Hospital is sponsoring carnival games, arts and crafts, and a trackless train ride for a nominal fee. Due to popular demand, Comcast is bringing Nickelodeon's "Go, Diego, Go!" to the 2010 Hola Festival!

Authentic food from countries such as Argentina, Colombia, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Cuba and Mexico will appeal to everyone's palate. And don't forget to visit the community information section or browse the souvenirs from our craft vendors.

Admission to the 2010 Hola Festival is free, but visitors are encouraged to bring a donation of non-perishable food items such as rice and beans to benefit Knoxville's Second Harvest Food Bank. There is a small fee for some of the children's activities.

Sponsors this year include: Bush Beans, The University of Tennessee, US Cellular, Comcast, The City of Knoxville, the Tennessee Arts Commission, Scripps Networks, TVA, Regal Entertainment Group, AmeriChoice, Cherokee Distributing Company, East Tennessee Children's Hospital, Safe Kids, Target, International Flair, Pepsi, Knoxville's Central Business Improvement District, Mercy Health Partners, the Knoxville Area Association of Realtors, the Clayton Family Foundation, Western Height Dental, Perceptics, Dixie Home Crafters, UT-Battelle, Home Depot, Mibanco, the American Red Cross, the Knoxville Zoo, and Sound Ventures. Media sponsors include the Knoxville News Sentinel, WBIR, Journal Broadcast Group (102.1 FM), WKZX (93.5 FM), Mundo Hispano, Hola Tennessee and MiVidaToday. Special thanks to Market Square District Association, Dr. Phillip Michael and Dr. Connie Galli, the Knoxville Museum of Art, the Greater Knoxville Art and Cultural Alliance, the City of Knoxville Special Events Office, the Carpetbag Theater, the 100 Block Gay Street Association, Earth Fare, 21st Century Mortgage, Wackenhut, and TIRRC.

The HoLa Annual Resource Guide, which includes a Yellow Page section in Spanish about law, health and education, will be available at the festival, and at HoLa's new office at the Emporium Building (100 S. Gay Street, Suite 109). This year features a section with Spanish-speaking doctors.

For more information, please contact Coral Getino at 865-335-3358 or visit www.holafestival.org.