Passport Program

Explore the different cultures of the countries represented at the 13th Annual Knox Asian Festival by participating in the Passport Program!

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

1. Visit each country and get a stamp

2. Pick your favorite country booth

3. Take a photo with your favorite culture booth while holding up your passport

4. Post the photo on social media with the hashtag #knoxasianfesival

The first 3000 visitors will receive a paper passport booklet! Visit the Main Information Booth to claim your prize. Don’t forget to snap a photo with your completed passport and share it on social media with #KnoxAsianFestival. 📸✨

The Top 10 Photos Will Receive a FREE T-Shirt!

Japan

Enjoy Traditinal Japanese Drum, Harp and Flute sound on the stage.

The Japan Pavilion will have a Green Tea Ceremony with Tea House which UTK interior architecture department students made. (See Tea House Here). There will also be Shamisen (Japanese Banjo Music booth), Japanese Martial Arts groups, Kimono Try-on booth, Calligraphy booth, & Origami booth.

Japanese Kimono Try on
Display of Okinawa musical instruments
Free tour guide booklets
Japanese craft sales
Traditional Music - Twinkle Twinkle Little Star or Sakura Sakura on cardboard shamisen & Japanese Drums
Origami and calligraphy lessons by Japanese students
The Vols Japanese Culture Association (VJCA) will be selling paper parasols (‘wagasa’) and folding fans, as well as running a carnival-like fishing game (‘yo-yo tsuri’) for kids. All proceeds will go towards fundraising for the club at UT.
The Japanese Animanga Research Society (aka JARS; the official Animanga club of the University of Tennessee Knoxville), and selling various items (manga, bento boxes, chopsticks,
Japan Exchange Teaching program promotion
Japanese government scholarship (MEXT Program) promotion
Cultural activity - Japanese Bamboo Flute, Shakuhachi Lecture
Japanese Flower Arrangement Class
Kendo Club
Musei no Tora - Japanese Martial Arts - Samurai Display
Cosplay Contest

China

Represented by: Knoxville Chinese Culture, UTK Chinese Program, UTK Chinese Student and Scholar Association, & Farragut Schools Youth Group

Traditional Performances
Chinese Calligraphy
Chopstick Challenge
Traditional Music, Games, Quizzes
Language Instruction
Custom Chinese Bookmarks
Chinese Dance Workshop
Kids Crafts: Send a Message to China
Chinese Dress Photo Booth
Lion/Dragon Dance by Wah Lum Kang Fu School

South Korea

Calligraphy - we will write your name in Korean
Selfie with Hanbok (Traditional Korean Dress)
Tasting Korean Snacks
Experince Korean Music Instrument
Learn about Korean History
Hangul writing
Korean games

FAN DANCE: The origins of Korean fan dancing are a combination of politics and religion. The court of the Cho-Sen dynasty was the basis for the intricate costuming and very precise movements. However, the movements themselves evoke natural phenomena, from the color and fringes of the peony-colored fans to the many formations that recall blooming trees, flowers, and natural waves.

This choreography and costuming are closely related to the shamanic religious tradition of Korean spiritual beliefs. The two have combined to create Buchaechum, which is the correct name for the dance. Originating on the peninsula, it has become one of the great ambassadorial art forms for Koreans around the world because the movement and color are stunning and captivating, no matter what culture you are from.

Indonesia

Traditional Indonesian Authentic Foods

Indonesian Cultural Tent:

Gamelan Music Workshops & Information Booth presented by the Natalie H. Haslam College of Music at UT Knoxville
UT Knoxville is home to a Balinese seven-tone gamelan semar pegulingan. This ensemble consists of a large collection of bronze-keyed metallophones, bronze gongs, drums, and bamboo flutes
Participation in the group is open to the public through UT Knoxville: music.utk.edu/university-community-music-school/
1. Activity with Consulate of Indonesia, Houston Texas

a. Games and win prize

b. Learn about cultures, regions from Consulate of Indonesia Houston

c. Everyone is invited to join us on stage and experience the joy of playing the Angklung, a traditional Indonesian bamboo musical instrument recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The Philippines

Philippine Cultural Items
Giveaway for Branded Items
Karaoke
Tinikling
Pabitin Candy Jump for Children
Traditional Dance Lessons

Taiwan

We are going to share…

Taiwanese poster
Travel information from the government
Traditional crafts
Chinese Calligraphy
Taiwanese religious
Childrens toys
Fortune telling
Traditional rice hat and fan
Night Market Fun Games
Tryout Traditional Temple Fair Costume
Taiwan Tourism Information Display
Traditional Taiwanese Cuisine Display

India

🌸✨ Experience India at the Festival! ✨🌸

Bring the kids to the Indian Booth and enjoy hands-on activities that are fun, creative, and rich in cultural meaning:

🎨 Rangoli Art with Colored Sand
Kids fill in beautiful rangoli patterns with vibrant colored sand.
🌟 Symbolizes welcoming good luck, joy, and positivity!

🪔 Diya Lamp Painting
Paint your own traditional clay diya lamp.
🌟 Represents light, hope, and blessings during Diwali.

🐘 Paper Plate Elephant Craft
Create an adorable elephant face with paper plates and googly eyes.
🌟 Elephants are symbols of wisdom, strength, and new beginnings.

🌀 Spinning Top Challenge
Try spinning a traditional wooden top (Pambaram) and see who’s top spins the longest!
🌟 A beloved game across Indian villages for generations.

💖 These activities are perfect for kids to learn, create, and celebrate Indian culture in a fun way. Don’t miss it!

Bangladesh

in our booth. We will showcase a variety of Bangladeshi cultural artifacts. We will do the country passport program. Our cultural performers will be present there, and our henna artists will offer henna designs for attendees.

Thailand

Songkran: Thailand's New Year Celebration

Water is poured over Buddha statues, then sprinkled over the heads of loved ones. Songkran's celebrations involve using water to purify and cleanse one of troubles or misfortune from the previous year and bless them for prosperity and happiness in the new year.

You can also Temple Visits & Merit-Making 🛕 – Many visit temples to offer food to monks, pour water on Buddha statues, and participate in merit-making ceremonies.

Enjoy Authentic Thailand Foods.