Festivals

Festivals

In order to keep the rich Anatolian culture in Turkey alive and thriving, in every province, district and even in some villages there are various traditional festivals and gatherings. At the same time, some national and international festivals are held in order to support this purpose. Festivals which represent traditional Turkish culture not only aim to increase the spirit of unity in society, but also to present the cultural wealth of the places where these ceremonies are held. Some festivals aim to present a product and which have a strong economic element (the Apricot Festival in Malatya, Carpet Festival in Eşme, Cherry Festival in Aksu etc), and others aim to present culture alone are more widely held in Anatolia (the International Culture and Art Activities in the memory of Hacı Bektaş Veli, Abdal Musa gatherings, Galley Ceremonies etc). Another important contribution of these festivals, which eventually become traditions after long years of contribution to social life is that they create an appropriate atmosphere for people to come together and have fun. For example, the “Savşat sahra Pancarı Şenliği” which is held in the Black Sea region during 16-18th July is one of the most prestigious gatherings around, with particular contributions from women. Games are among the most important events on festival days. People who work all year long in order to enhance production also contribute  to the region’s economic development at these festivals. The main purpose of such festivals is to ensure the highest quality for the product involved, and all contests are arranged with this end in mind. Although gatherings are also arranged to present culture, not to promote a specific product, these have gradually moved away from their obstensible purpose and have become a part of cultural tourism. The common feature of festivals and celebrations is they both enhance cooperative efforts in society, and create a unity of ideas or of actions. The names, dates and locations of various festivals and ceremonies held in Turkey are given below: Name: Amasya Ataturk Culture and Art Ceremony Place: Amasya Date: 12-19th June Name: Golden Orange Festival  Place: Antalya  Date: 13th October Name: Aluçdağ Festival Place: Camlidere Date: 6th July Name: Alanya Tourism Ceremony Place: Alanya Date: 4-9th June Name: Golden Nut Ceremonies  Place: Ordu Date: 19-22nd September Name: Aksu Culture and Art Ceremonies Place: Giresun Date: 20-3rd May Name: Akşehir Hodja Nasrettin Hoca Ceremonies Place: Akşehir Date: 5-10th July Name: Ahi Evran Art and Folk Festival Place: Kırşehir Date: 5-8th September Name: 1st St. Nicholas Festival Place: Kaş- Demre Date: 24th December Name: Decorated Earthenware Festival Place: Kütahya Date: 12-15th July Name: Çanakkale Wooden Horse Children’s Festival Place: Çanakkale Date: June Name: Ertuğrul Gazi Festival Place: Söğüt Date: First Week of September Name: Eğirdir Golden Apple, Silver and Bronze Place: Isparta - Eğirdir Date: 2-7th September Name: Lobster Ceremonies Place: Date: Name: Pine Nut Festival Place: Gaziantep Date: 25th December Name: Foça Music and Folk Dance Festival Place: İzmir Date: 20-23rd August Name: Traditional Mesir Ceremonies Place: Manisa Date: 20-23th June Name: Rug and Rose Festival Place: Isparta Date: 1-7th June Name: Hacı Bektaş Veli Ceremonies Place: Hacibektaş Date: 13-18th July Name: Annexation of Hatay to the Motherland Place: Hatay Date: 5-7th July Name: Galley Ceremonies Place: Trabzon Date: Name: Kavgasor Ceremonies Place: Artvin Date: Name: Apricot Festival Place: 20-22nd July  Date: Name: Melon Festival  Place: Diyarbakir  Date: 22-24th September Name: Kırkpınar Wrestling  Place: Edirne  Date: Second Week of June Name: Karacaoğlan Festival  Place: Muş  Date: 10-12nd June Name: Pamukkale Festival  Place: Denizli  Date: 3-5th June Name: Selçuk Efes Culture and Art Festival  Place: İzmir  Date: 1-8th May Name: Seyit Battal Gazi Ceremonies  Place: Eskişehir  Date: 12-17th May Name: Tourism and Art Ceremonies  Place: Marmaris  Date: 9-17th June Name: International Silifke Music and Folk Dance Festival Place: Mersin  Date: 15th September – 5th October Name: International Marmara Music and Folk Dance Festival  Place: İstanbul  Date: 2-7th June Name: 3rd Hittite Festival  Place: Çorum – Sungurlu, Alacahöyük - Boğazkale  Date: 18-25th September Name: Van Tourism and Culture Festival  Place: Van  Date: 16-20th July Names: Yunus Emre Ceremonies  Place: Eskişehir  Date: 6-9th May Name: Abdal Musa Memorial Ceremonies  Place: Antalya  Date: 9-10th June