Festivals

In order to keep the rich Anatolian culture in Türkiye 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 Türkiye 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