Stars shine at New Year
THE stars were out for New Year at the TRNC’s luxury hotels — but local municipalities and businesses helped to ensure that the festive season went with a bang for all, laying on a range of free events.
Megastar Tarkan led a wave of Turkish performers who entertained customers at the country’s plushest hotels. While he sang at Esentepe’s Elexus Hotel, Murat Boz and Gülşen took to the stage at Girne’s newly opened Les Ambassadeurs, Fatih Ürek had everyone dancing at Çatalköy’s Acapulco resort and Haluk Levent charmed fans at Girne’s Grand Pasha.
More than 1,000 people were entertained by Ebru Gündeş at the Cratos Hotel in Çatalköy, while Serdar Ortaç appeared at Merit Crystal Cove in Alsancak, Candan Erçetin was at Merit Park Hotel in Kervansaray and Sıla was at Girne’s Lord’s Palace Hotel.
Elsewhere, a four-day holiday funfair in Karaoğlanoğlu Park, organised by Girne Municipality, drew the crowds, including to a festive concert featuring local band The Healers.
There were simultaneous parties on Christmas Eve where clowns, face-painting and games for children all added to the fun at the Girne marketplace, as did Santa when he arrived to distribute gifts.
Mayor Nidai Güngördü told those attending that he believed today’s children represented the future of the country, and highlighted the work carried out during his term of office to improve play areas in Girne.
At the other end of the age scale, members of the Second Spring senior citizen group were treated to lunch at the Dome Hotel on Boxing Day.
The town welcomed 2018 with a New Year’s Eve concert at Ramadan Cemil Square featuring the Niyal Öztürk Band and culminating in a spectacular firework display.
Meanwhile, a New Year’s party for more than 100 children with special needs was hosted at Garfield Bar by the Children’s Rights Unit and Youth Committee of Lefkoşa Turkish Municipality, while the authority’s traditional festive tree made from aluminium cans collected as part of the Can Kid project was put up in front of its headquarters.
Children with disabilities and special needs were also treated to a New Year’s lunch at Girne’s Eziç Premier restaurant under the banner “Fun Without Obstacles”. Sponsored by İktisatbank, the event saw youngsters and parents singing, dancing and playing games with each child being given a present.
Güzelyurt Municipality treated local children to balloon, science and illusion shows in the town’s covered market as part of its
festive programme while Gazimağusa welcomed the New Year with a municipality-organised concert in Namık Kemal Square, where local musicians took to the stage followed by a midnight firework display.