2015年9月18日，田纳西大学孔子学院中秋晚会在诺克斯维尔市派里西比州立社区大学（Pellissippi State Community College）礼堂举行。这是田纳西大学孔子学院首次在田纳西大学以外举办这一活动，目的是扩大活动举办场地，深入到社区中心，从而使更多周边社区的美国居民得以参与到活动中来，增强宣传中国文化的力度。此举收到了良好效果，有近250人参加了此次晚会，使之成为田纳西大学孔子学院自成立以来参加人数最多的一次中秋晚会。田纳西大学副教务长Robert Hinde博士和Pia Wood博士，文理学院院长Theresa Lee博士，派里西比州立社区大学前任校长Allen Edwards博士，文学院院长Jonathan Fowler博士及国际教育中心主任Tracy Bradley博士等也莅临晚会，对活动表示支持和祝贺。
晚会在田纳西大学中国文化俱乐部的两位美国学生的主持下进行。孔子学院美方院长萧世伦博士发表了简短的讲话，对到场佳宾表示感谢，并预祝表演活动成功举行。晚会的表演者由孔子学院教师、田纳西大学的中国访问学者和留学生、学习汉语的美国学生、热爱中国文化的美国当地居民组成。一曲《但愿人长久》拉开了演出的序幕，歌曲那古雅优美的意境和低徊婉转的音声将人们带入了每逢佳节倍思亲的思绪之中。伴随《青花瓷》的曲调，两位手持画伞的江南女子在古琴舒缓深沉的乐声中翩翩起舞，举手投足一如月中嫦娥，飘飘若仙；旗袍秀与双截棍的结合，将中国女子婀娜曼妙的妩媚之美与中国功夫的铿锵果决融为一体，刚柔并济；两位美国学生演唱的《伤心的人别听慢歌》，对快节奏的歌词进行了流畅利索的演绎，扎实的中文功底令在场的中国学生都为之喝彩；欢快诙谐的《猜调》那独特的民歌韵律令美国观众大感神奇，而中阮表演《彩云追月》更让他们惊讶于中国古典乐器的独特和传统音乐的优美；太极剑和压轴的武术表演则或舒展沉稳，静若处子，或孔武有力，动若脱兔，均赢得了在场观众的热烈掌声。表演间隙还穿插有惊喜不断的抽奖活动，使现场气氛显得热闹而欢快。
孔子学院还为到场嘉宾们准备了丰富的中国传统美食，特别是月饼，令观众在大饱眼福之余，亦大饱口福。孔子学院办公室主任张宇博士策划筹备这次中秋庆典活动，中方院长陶咏教授也带领孔院教师及中外志愿者在当晚付出了辛勤的努力。
“但愿人长久，千里共婵娟”，当孔子学院的教师向对中国文化充满好奇的美国人解释中秋节的由来与传统时，双方都陷入了对人间一切美好事物的畅想与展望之中。(田纳西大学孔子学院邵文实供稿)
2015 Mid Autumn Festival Party of the Confucius Institute at the University of Tennessee was held in the auditorium of Pellissippi State Community College On Sept. 18. In order to enhance the publicity of Chinese culture by letting more American residents attend related activities, the Confucius Institute at the University of Tennessee held this party off campus for the first time. In fact, the totality of nearly 250 participants made this activity the largest one since the foundation of the institute. The Deputy Provosts Professor Robert Hinde and Professor Pia Wood, the Dean of Liberal Arts College Doctor Theresa Lee, the former Principal of Pellissippi State Community College Doctor Allen Edwards, the Director of College of Literature Doctor Jonathan Fowler, and the Director of International Education Center Doctor Tracy Bradley were invited to the evening party.
Two American students of UTK Chinese Culture Club hosted the party. The American Dean of the Confucius Institute Doctor Xiao Shilun made a brief speech and expressed thanks to all the guests. The programs, performed by the teachers of the Confucius Institute, the Chinese visiting scholars and overseas students at UTK, American students who were learning Chinese, and the local residents who were interested in Chinese culture, included the song May They Live Long, the Chinese classical dance, Chinese martial art show, Chinese classical instruments performing, etc. There were also lottery games between the marvelous programs.
The Confucius Institute prepared various Chinese traditional foods as well, especially the moon cakes.
The Director of school office of the Confucius Institute Doctor Zhang Yu was in charge of planning and preparing this evening party. And the Chinese Dean Professor Tao Yong, together with all the teachers of the institute and the Chinese and American volunteers, organized this excellent activity.
