Rossini Festival. Image courtesy of KnoxvilleOpera.com

KNOXVILLE -- One of the region's largest and most favored special events will cover 12 blocks of downtown Gay Street and the Market Square District with its international flair. This year's festival will include a Princess Parade and Tea Party. On Saturday, April 27th from 11:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m., the Street Fair will feature mouthwatering foods and beverages, an upscale artisan’s market, and live music and dance.

Delivering cultural arts and entertainment to East Tennessee, the Knoxville Opera Rossini Festival International Street Fair introduces the music of opera to attendees, many of who are experiencing it for the first time. Entertainment will include over 800 vocal and instrumental performers as well as dance performers on five outdoor stages.

The Rossini Festival drew a crowed of 6,000 its first year and has grown to attract attendance of 100,000 under nice weather conditions.

Rossini returns to the Rossini Festival with Knoxville Opera’s production of his sparkling opera Cinderella. Brisk, catchy, and highly entertaining, Rossini’s telling of the ultimate sparkling ever-after cleverly blends tenderness and frivolity. Performances are Friday, April 26 at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, April 28 at 2:30 p.m. at the magnificent Tennessee Theatre. For tickets and information, visit KnoxvilleOpera.com or call 865-524-0795.

“Knoxville Opera is enhancing our popular Rossini Festival with an even wider variety of artisans and cuisine than ever before,” says Knoxville Opera Executive Director and Conductor, Brian Salesky. “We welcome YMCA as a new sponsor of this year’s event which expands the KidsZone from Market Square onto Market Street. They will have hopscotch, four square, double dutch and other popular outdoor stations for the kids as well as inflatables.” continued Salesky.

“The surprise this year is the Princess Parade and Tea Party celebrating Knoxville Opera’s production of Cinderella,” according to Knoxville Opera Director of Marketing, Michael Torano. “YMCA and Tea at the Gallery are sponsoring a Princess Parade through the streets of Downtown Knoxville. Cinderella and the Prince will serenade participants before they enter the Tennessee Theatre for a private Royal Tea Party with cakes, delicate sandwiches and a gourmet tea blended specifically for these Princesses.

In The Grill at Highlands Row/Constellation Brands Wine Experience tent in Krutch Park Extension, patrons will be able to choose from an extensive array of wine tastings starting at noon including Napa Bourdeaux, High End Italian Reds, Shiraz, Zins, Napa Cabs, Rieslings, Whites of New Zealand, and Champagnes among others.”

For details about the festival go to RossiniFestival.org.

Published April 17, 2013