Knoxville World's Fair (1982)

From the James Kilgore Collection

[@julieensor]

I lived in Knoxville, had a season pass and went somewhere between 30-40 times over its six month run. I spent most of my time at the “family funfair” section. I rode the Peter Pan more than anything else…. My all time favorite amusement ride! It was a magical time for me! Great memories and food!

[@bradwingard5789]

I was there with my younger brother and paternal grandparents. I was 11 years old. We camped in the parking lot in a pickup truck camper. I am shedding a few tears as I watch this video. I remember our school band marching in a parade the day we were there and my brother and myself wore our school shirts in support. I had my picture taken with the Strohs beer car. My grandmother is still with us at 100 years old and vividly remembers it still. Great memories!

[@loymichelleneely7525]

I preformed at this event when I was 16 years old amazing memory

[@AJ-hy9si]

I probably went to the 1982 World's Fair 10 times. I grew up 55 miles away and would take a shuttle bus which ran daily from the little town that I lived in. I still have the entrance gate tickets in an album. I was a 15 year old young man. I soaked it all in like a sponge. I always visited the fair by myself. Great Memories!

[@Monkismo]

I was living in Claiborne County and went on a school trip there. Ate pizza til I felt sick and spent most of my time and money in the arcade. 😅 I would appreciate it much more now.

[@richardgadberry8398]

I remember the Knoxville Wod Fir.

[@emmarose4234]

Did you buy any wigs?

[@M60gunner1971]

​@@emmarose4234I see what you did there.

[@philipreedwallace]

I remember eating in the Sun Sphere restaurant . I was 11. This brings back so many memories . Me and my grandmother road a bus just like the one at the beginning from Nashville. Good times. Simple times.

[@dustinjames7572]

WiG Sphere!!!!

[@emmarose4234]

*YOU ARE HEARING ME TALK.*

[@MeepleKV]

Johnny would love this

[@nathanday2595]

Attended with my family at the age of six. We almost got trampled by the Clydesdales pulling the beer wagon! Fun times! My Mother bought a souvenir Tennessee Clay pitcher and wash basin from one of the shops. Today, 3/25/2023, she gave it to my Wife and me to put in our new house. Thanks, Mom😍

[@Lemi-killmister]

You've got to be there The 1982 world's fair you've got to beeeeeee there

[@YankeeStacking]

Went there from Massachusetts as a 16 year old with my family. 😊

[@khamurudinmohdnoor1372]

Wow! Knoxville 1982 World's Fair. Thank you for sharing this video. I had the opportunity to enjoy the fair the whole Summer of '82. A very lovely event.

[@nickroberts-xf7oq]

A Knoxville native here, I was a high school junior in 1982. 🎉 I went to the 1982 World's Fair three times, but I don't remember much, till now. 😊 I mainly remember the rides, etc. Thank you for posting this. ⏳️ Its a shame that the US pavillion was torn down soon after the fair.

[@cattman1970]

I was there as a young boy.

[@civlyzed]

I went with family when I was 12. I used to have some memorabilia from the fair, it's probably in a box in the attic somewhere.

[@philipreedwallace]

Me too . With my grandmother . I was 11. Fun times.

[@cattman1970]

@@philipreedwallace I was 11 as well. born in 1970!

[@M60gunner1971]

11 as well.

[@bikewithchris1273]

It's interesting how this film is either authentic Super * or made to look like it because you would think you were watching the original 1939 Worlds Fair by the music and film style this was shot in.

[@kevinkev9996]

Lived in Knoxville for 25 years to see it become what it is now is a tragedy

[@LouisJr.]

Dang. Is it that bad seeing it nowadays?

[@kevinkev9996]

@@LouisJr. Lots of drugs murders and homelessness

[@LouisJr.]

@@kevinkev9996 My dad took me to the World's Fair sometime between "1984" to "86". It wasn't quite what we thought we thought it would be like Six Flags in Atlanta, GA. But it was nice experience at the time thou.

[@KhalidMahmood-wm1qz]

I visited this fair from Maryland.

[@jeremymiller5239]

I was there in June 1982 @ 9 years old. It made a big enough impression on me that I still remember the "rocket belt man" to a "t". What an amazing time the 80s were.

[@WesB1972]

I lived in Knoxville in 1982, had season passes and went almost every evening after work to enjoy the fair with my family and sample all of the different cuisines I always visited the Clydesdales. It was great time to live in Knoxville. We were there on opening day and also on closing day, many great memories from that era.

[@sophiehanssel2017]

RIP Darien Lake Ferris Wheel, first in Knoxville then in Western New York, 1982-2019. Never rode it because I was never a fan of Darien Lake, but I AM SAD!

[@robbiestewart89]

I remember the nightly fireworks displays. On Sunday nights whilst bringing my bro and I back to K-town from our weekend trips to dad's house in Gatlinburg, dad would always park his van along Neyland Drive and we'd look up in the sky at the displays. My bro and I never got to go into the fair site at the time since it was considered a very costly expense for our parents who had recently separated and divorced at the time.

[@mistythigpen3262]

I believe I was around 8 or 9 when we went. Young enough to not know any details. My parents bought us alien antenna head bands we wore throughout the fair. Not a hole lot of specific memories of exhibits. I think I remember going through futuristic exhibits. So I was curious to see if I saw any of those to jog my memories.

[@mistythigpen3262]

This video unfortunately didn't trigger much in the way of any memories except the Clydesdales horses. I'm now realizing it was the parade I must be remembering. But I know I saw future stuff that would be things We'd see when I was older. I was fascinated by that exibit.

[@marcjohnson8169]

I was 13 & a nerd then.....I fondly remember the exhibition which had a guy taunting..."this will be the rave in the future"....he had us touch a screen & the touch made the screen respond....I was flabbergasted....fast forward..... I'm typing this message on a touch screen @ 54 longing to return back to those years😊😊

[@TennesseeTrio]

Knoxville holds 2 years close to its heart: 1982 and 1998! My husband was lucky enough to visit the Worlds Fair as a little guy, but I wasn’t born just yet :)

[@krpbdp]

I was very, very proud of my hometown! Enjoyed the fair several times on trips from NYC.

[@darrellbrackett7948]

I worked there as a paramedic. Miss those days.

[@GSHPWI]

My family went here!

[@chrispredsfan]

This brings back a lot of memories. Thanks for sharing this.

[@vickiecanupp7815]

"Thanks for the memories"....I was there and this lets you go back for just a few minutes....:)

[@dq1275]

Thanks is for sharing. I was reading about World Fairs and got deep into the Knoxville hosting. So I came to KZbin and found this video. What a gem. I feel like I was almost there. I was in Knoxville in the late 90’s for work but almost all was long gone. This was great! Being from California, I just found a lot of warm people of the Tennessee way which is very unique. And boy do they love the Vols!👍

[@thedivineenergy]

*I love how when the lady was getting off the bus the Gentleman brushed out her creases and wrinkles in her dress. What a subtle sweetness. 🥰*

[@oooraeooo]

Probably the best World's Fair video I've seen. Thank you!

[@nickgreen7646]

Brings back memories, I was about 6 when it came through Knoxville, my Mm worked in the crystal pavilion

[@Diskoboy1974]

Was there with my parents and grandparents. I even remember the dates we went; September 25-26, 1982.

[@markvolpe2305]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/j2emi5yspZlreJI RIP Giant Wheel. After the World's Fair, Darien Lake (Which is my home park) purchased it and it operated there from 1983 and demolished in 2023.

[@c0rnp0p80]

I had just turned 4 years old when the fair started. Those are some of my earliest memories. It's a shame they've torn down so much of the old fair grounds. We still have the Sunsphere and the amphitheater. That's about it.

[@rwilliams6334]

Was there while in the Scouts, stayed in the Smokeys.. great memories

[@felinebline7154]

What happened to us?!!!!

[@AudioGuyBrian]

I had just graduated high school and was moving from Wisconsin to Florida with my mom. We stopped at this World's Fair on the way to Florida. I remember it being very boring, very hot... I mean VERY HOT and after about 2 hours of sweating like crazy we finally said, let's get the Hell out of here. It was so nice to get back on the road in air conditioning.

[@irish80-93]

🔥🔥🔥🤘🤘👽👽🤙🤙

[@M60gunner1971]

The Chinese pavilion was unattainable until the end of the fair, unles you wanted to wait 6 hrs.

[@anselpena9967]

Sería genial que hubieran grabado en 4k en ese tiempo . Pero el 4k aún no existía jejejejeje. Saludos desde México 🇲🇽😸.

[@AmexL]

A bit of a downgrade from the Fair 100 years prior.

[@paulh6591]

Or 18 years prior. Still, a lot of effort was put into it.

[@philipreedwallace]

What happened to World Fairs???

[@WariorOfPeace]

Yo they still happen there just hasn’t been on in the Western Hemisphere in a while. THE 2025 will be in Osaka Japan and The US has a bid for the 2027 worlds fair so let HOPE we get it!!!

[@philipreedwallace]

@@WariorOfPeace Thank you

[@dq1275]

The GOP led Congress of the early 2000’s refused to fund US membership and thus the US was suspended by the World’s Fair governing body. As a result, the likelihood of the US winning a host bid became nearly impossible. World’s Fairs or Expos as they are now known continue occur at intervals, just not in the US. The Trump administration led a successful campaign in Congress to fund US membership once again. I am not trying to make a political statement here, just the facts on the record.

[@douglasnichols6116]

I worked there as a cleaner yeall some messee people

[@Wizardof]

Did Political Professor Joe Dodd think about how a theoretical CARTER SECOND TERM would have affected the fair as opposed to Reagan? Carter's visit would have been troublesome and he would have OVERSTAYED and visted EVERY WF exhibit.

[@coreyray5785]

Wod Fir?

[@billsmith109]

these world fairs are garbage compared to the ones in the early 1900's.