April 19, 2008, Gay Street and Market Square in Downtown Knoxville

One of the Southeast’s most alluring cultural attractions, Knoxville Opera's Rossini Festival brings a taste of Europe to East Tennessee and celebrates the color, fun and excitement of opera and Italian culture.

The festival combines world class opera performances, art exhibitions, wine tasting, and a wide variety of other community events with a vibrant Italian Street Fair on April 19th, from noon to 9pm, in which Knoxville’s Gay Street is transformed from a busy downtown thoroughfare to a colorful European festival with three stages featuring a range of entertainment options, an upscale Artisan’s Market, the smells and tastes of authentic Mediterranean foods and beverages, and a special children’s area with entertainment, fun and games.

This year's festival features performances of Tosca at the Tennessee Theatre.

Visit the Food Vendors and Artisans pages for downloadable applications for this event.