Legendary Izmir Festivals

The word festival comes from the Latin word festa. It first came into use and became established in the early 1200s. The word generally refers to large festivities where small or large communities living in close regions, sharing a common past and having similar traditions come together for the same purpose. Today, similarly, it is one of the most common events where people who like the same things and are curious about the same things find each other most easily. Although it has become intertwined with the concepts of music, dance and entertainment together with large organizations today, it also undertakes certain tasks such as not letting people forget the local culture and ensuring the continuity of traditions in Turkey. There are some festivals that take place at certain times of the year in modest towns, and their numbers often increase with the arrival of spring. Sometimes, they are repeated at the same time every year to commemorate a special event or person or to introduce a food that has become integrated with the identity of the region and has become a symbol. Just as there are no rules on how festivals are held, it would be wrong to say that all festivals have a common purpose. Some are entertainment-oriented while others serve only artistic purposes in different forms and themes. Here are the Izmir festivals we have selected for you.

ALAÇATI HERB FESTIVAL

Alaçati herb festival, which takes place in Çeşme, is among the festivals that receive 100% interest every year after it was first held in April 2010. The festival lasts 4 days and usually takes place in the first week of April. During these 4 days, it attracts great interest from guests not only from the surrounding provinces but also from Istanbul and Ankara. As you wander through the streets of Alaçatı, you can see all shades of green everywhere you look. Of course, as you will notice during this tour, the festival does not only feature Aegean herbs. At the same time, there are many stalls where you can taste local dishes in the festival, which is like a bazaar. Various items, all handmade, are also exhibited. One of the events that attracts great interest in the festival is the concert. Every year, an artist comes and performs at the festival. In addition, the competitions held with different concepts every year are indispensable for the festival. If you are planning to go, we recommend that you definitely check out the Alaçatı Herb Festival's event program shared on social media. Because you may miss the activities you want to attend due to the intense interest in the festival.

GERMIYAN BREAD FESTIVAL

The Germiyan Bread Festival, which takes place in October, lasts for 2 days. The live museum concept dominates the festival for two days. Because the festival's event area extends from the village coffeehouse to the village bakery and even the houses of the villagers. In some of the houses in the village, there are free workshops where homemade soap, bread, kopanisti (printed cheese) are shown. Gastronomy talks held in the village coffeehouse and processions where village traditions are revived are among the things to be seen during the festival. But the indispensable part of the festival is the bread made from sourdough, whose fame has exceeded the borders of Germiyan. The yeasts that they have passed down from generation to generation to preserve the flavor they leave on the palate are the secret behind Germiyan bread.

IZMIR INTERNATIONAL HUMOR FESTIVAL

Consisting of exhibitions, concerts, talks, theater performances and film screenings, the Izmir International Humor Festival is the only interdisciplinary humor festival in Turkey. Participation is free at the festival, where local and foreign writers and artists take part and many names are mentioned in speeches from the guests invited to the festival for their contributions to the culture of humor from the past to the present. Many different events that remind us of forgotten humor branches and introduce new types of humor to people are also included in the festival.

IZMIR INTERNATIONAL LITERATURE FESTIVAL

The literature festival, which is held every year, opens with a slogan determined specifically for each year. The festival, which starts with a poetry walk and continues with a concert, is attended by Turkish and foreign poets and writers who have an important place in the world of literature. There is a very intensive talk program on the literary agenda throughout the festival. The festival area is spread over a very wide area. In addition to the city center, events are also held in many districts such as Kemalpaşa, Beydağ, Bergama, Menderes, Ödemiş, Tire, Dikili, Seferihisar and Urla.

URLA INTERNATIONAL ARTICHOKE FESTIVAL

Organized every year in April to promote Urla cuisine, the festival offers producers the opportunity to showcase the artichokes they grow directly. The festival, which takes place at a wonderful time, includes culinary workshops where local recipes for artichokes are explained, food tastings and live music concerts. In addition, the beauty of its air and water, mixed with the taste of the artichoke, distinguishes the Urla mastic artichoke with its distinctive features.where is it protected by a local geographical indication.

Written by: Şebnem Gürer