Turkish Festival takes off in Chicago, treating visitors to cultural spectacle

A festival celebrating Turkish culture opened Friday in Chicago, treating visitors to a flurry of traditional attractions, from theater to culinary delights and booming military band tunes.

Spearheaded by the Zakat Foundation, a charitable group based in the US city but active around the world, the three-day Turkish Festival is taking place in the western Village of Rosemont. Opening remarks were made by Halil Demir, one of the founders of the event’s committee.

Anadolu is the global communication partner of the event, in which a team of whirling dervishes will be performing the famous Sufi dance known as the Sama on its first day.

Friday will also feature a theatrical display by the Turkish group, Theater Kulliyen, along with a speech on Türkiye’s economic growth by the country's presidential Investment Office.

A screening of the acclaimed Turkish film, Ayla: The Daughter of War, is also scheduled. It tells the story of a Turkish sergeant and a five-year-old orphan girl that he found on the battlefield during the Korean War in 1950.

“It is one of our hopes that the Turkish Festival will attract a large crowd,” Demir told Anadolu ahead of the opening events. “Not only will they learn about Turkish culture and the hope that Türkiye gives, but also experience a small piece of Türkiye.”

“Hopefully, that piece of Türkiye leaves a great impression that invites them to visit our beautiful home we call Türkiye,” he added.

The event has been planned as the largest festival for Turkish culture in Chicago so far, with about 230 stands set up on its grounds, including by companies, charities and other non-governmental organizations from the US’ Turkish and Muslim communities, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.

Also expected to attend are diplomatic officials from several different countries, including Türkiye’s Consul General in Chicago, Engin Turesin.