World’s Fair Park celebrates 42 years in Knoxville [Video]

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — May 1 marked 42 years since the World’s Fair Park opened in Knoxville. 

The city entertained 11 million people from all over the world with energy exhibits, cultural attractions and even an amusement park for six months during the World’s Fair celebration.

“The 1982 World’s Fair, formally known as the Knoxville International Energy Exposition, ran May 1 through October 31 under the theme “Energy Turns Our World” and would become recognized as the last successful World’s Fair held in America,” Visit Knoxville said. 

That iconic event is now remembered with World’s Fair Park and the Sunsphere. 

“More than 50 private organizations and companies took part in the Fair,” Visit Knoxville said. “Participating nations included Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, Egypt, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, Peru, the Philippines, …