Chicago Hosts the Turkish Festival Showcasing Cultural Heritage
A festival celebrating Turkish culture, regarded as one of the most comprehensive in North America, opened its doors on Friday in the Chicago area. The three-day Turkish Festival kicked off with a ceremonial march featuring a traditional Ottoman military band, known as a mehter, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont.
This year’s festival hosts over 200 stands that offer attendees a taste of Turkish cuisine, handicrafts, and other cultural treasures. The event has grown significantly, with attendance doubling compared to its inaugural year, attracting thousands from diverse backgrounds.
The opening ceremony featured speeches from key guests, including Turkish Ambassador to the U.S. Sedat Önal, Azerbaijani Ambassador to the U.S. Khazar Ibrahim, and Mehmet Kasım Gülpınar, the mayor of Şanlıurfa, a southeastern province of Turkey. Halil Demir, a co-founder of the festival organizing committee, emphasized the importance of the festival as a unifying and harmonious event. He noted, "People are beginning to understand the importance of this place, and the message of unity and harmony that we are trying to convey." Demir highlighted the festival's role in showcasing the beauty of Turkish culture and expressed hope for continued growth.
The Turkish Festival is not just about food and crafts; it also features culinary experiences led by renowned Turkish chef Ramazan Bingol, and hands-on demonstrations from artisans skilled in traditional practices like ebru (paper marbling), tezhip (illumination), ceramics, and calligraphy.
To engage attendees further, Turkish Airlines is offering round-trip tickets to Türkiye, with 10 winners randomly chosen from the first 2,000 festival-goers who register for the event.
The festival aims to bridge cultures, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in Turkey's artistic and culinary heritage while fostering connections and understanding through shared experiences.
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