This past weekend, Northern Cyprus was alive with a series of vibrant festivals celebrating local culture, history, and traditions across various villages.
In Kalavaç, the Kalavaç Culture and Arts Festival was hosted by the Değirmenlik-Akıncılar Municipality on Sunday, offering visitors a chance to experience Turkish Cypriot traditions, crafts, and heritage displays.
Meanwhile, the Kaleburnu Arkeo Festival returned for its second year under the theme “Where the Sun Rises Most Beautifully.” Held in the village square, the festival drew large crowds of locals and visitors. Organized through a partnership between the Erenköy-Karpaz Municipality, İskele Municipality, and the Kaleburnu Arkeo Festival Committee, the event aimed to highlight the village’s historical richness and boost cultural tourism in the Karpaz region.
Throughout the day, speakers underlined Kaleburnu’s cultural and historical importance. Rasım Küçük, representing the festival committee, described the village as a cultural gem with potential to become a significant regional attraction. İskele Mayor Hasan Sadıkoğlu noted that this festival marked the first joint event under a new cooperation protocol between the two municipalities. Erenköy-Karpaz Mayor Hamit Bakırcı also called for greater central government support to promote the village more effectively.
The festival concluded with concerts, traditional handicrafts exhibitions, historical safari tours, and plaque presentations, positioning Kaleburnu as a rising cultural hotspot.
In Akdeniz village, the 9th Akdeniz Asparagus (Ayrelli) Festival took place, organized by the Lapta Alsancak Çamlıbel Municipality in collaboration with the Akdeniz Village Mukhtar. The festival featured artistic and cultural performances, along with stalls offering local delicacies and handmade products.
Mayor Fırat Ataser of Lapta, Alsancak, and Çamlıbel, highlighted Akdeniz as one of the country’s most beautiful villages and emphasized the festival’s role in promoting asparagus, a product closely associated with the region.
Also on Sunday, Bağlıköy hosted the 6th Traditional Bağlıköy Eco Day, organized by the Bağlıköy Eco Tourism Volunteers Association with support from Lefke Municipality and the European University of Lefke. The event, held in the village square, was dedicated to the memory of the association’s founding president, Perihan Aziz.
Following speeches, the celebration continued with live music, folk dances, and community activities, reflecting the eco-tourism spirit and cultural vibrancy of Bağlıköy.
(voıce)
