HoLa Festival 2026: A Family Day of Latin Music, Food, and the Parade of Nations at World's Fair Park (Oct 10)
The 26th HoLa Festival lands Saturday, October 10 from 11 AM to 10 PM on the Performance Lawn at World's Fair Park in Knoxville, and it's one of the better free-ish cultural outings you can do with kids within a half hour of Maryville.
Kids 12 and under get in free, and for everyone older than that it's a $4 donation at the gate. For that you get a full day of Latin music and dancing, home-cooked food from a dozen-plus vendors, artisan crafts, the Parade of Nations, and a kids' area that actually teaches something instead of just burning energy.
What the kids will actually enjoy:
The Heritage section has 20-plus booths, each representing a Spanish-speaking country, where kids can "travel" through and collect stamps in their own HoLa passport as they learn a little about each culture. There's also a children's stage with performances and shows, plus booths near the craft vendors with games and face painting. The festival has been running since 1999, so the kids' programming is well-practiced.
The Parade of Nations steps off at 3:00 PM — a nice anchor point if you want to aim for the middle of the day and leave before the crowd gets big.
Logistics worth knowing before you go:
- Food runs on a ticket system: tickets are $1 each, and vendors only take tickets, not cash or cards. You buy them at the info tent, the drinks tent, or the US Heritage table. So bring cash to convert, or plan the ticket buy as your first stop.
- Parking is free at several lots, and the closest is the 11th Street Garage (about a 1-minute walk). The Fort Kid lot is a 6-minute walk and easy to remember if you've been there for the playground. There's also a free KAT bus line (Route 42) and the free Orange Line trolley that stop right outside the entrance.
- Keep your wristband if you leave and come back — you can re-enter the same day, but wristbands are only good for the day you buy them.
- If you're there into the evening around 9 PM, there's a fireworks show.
- Restrooms: portable ones inside, plus public restrooms across from the entrance.
The Maryville angle: It's about a 20-minute drive up I-140/I-40, which makes it an easy full afternoon outing. If you want to pair it with more, the Knoxville Museum of Art is right there and currently hosts the Frutos Latinos exhibit through October 15, celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month — a free add-on before or after the festival.
Small note: the festival's own page still has some older FAQ text floating around, but the 2026 date and times are confirmed — Saturday, October 10, 11 AM to 10 PM. If you want the day-of music lineup, check holahoralatina.org closer to the date.