KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — It only happens one day a year, when the city of Knoxville becomes the stage.
Thousands of people came out to the Rossini Festival. It's supposed to be an annual event. However, for the past two summers, it's been canceled due to COVID-19.
The executive director of Knoxville Opera Jason Hardy said he's ecstatic it's back.
"In opera, we do grand often, but not ever on this degree of a scale," Hardy said.
Hardy said after a two-year hiatus, they wanted the festival to be back and better than ever.
"We missed it," Hardy said. "You can see the hunger that we've all had to not only enjoy delicious restaurants and vendors downtown, but the hunger just for that sense of connection with our neighbors."
But more than even the delicious food or vendors, Rossini put music back into the air in Knoxville.
"The music is fantastic. We walked up to here Mozart. Then I heard some Puccini," said Brett Wilder, who attended the festival with his family.
His grandson Lennon was enjoying the music, too.
"The live opera on Gay Street. You can't beat it. My grandson has been dancing for half an hour," Wilder said. "We're having a lot of fun."
Rossini contracted nearly 700 artists and musicians to showcase their skills during the 11-hour festival.
Michael Suits is another festival attendee. He loves all different types of music and applauded Rossini's ability to showcase many different genres.
"The music is always wide in its variety. They always have nice jazz ensembles here as well as the opera and something for everyone actually," Suits said.
But most of all, many people are grateful for the chance to see one another in a festival setting once again.
"The importance of connecting with our neighbors is such a vital part of what we do as storytellers," Hardy said.
"It's such a lovely day and we're just getting together again, is very much a blessing," Suits said.