Gazimağusa Children’s Festival is under way

THE 26th Gazimağusa Children’s Festival is under way, going on until the end of next month.

Organised by Gazimağusa Municipality and the Mağusa Cultural Association, the festival includes an array of competitions, exhibitions, plays and musical entertainment.

A “History Hunters” competition takes place in the walled city at 9.30am next Saturday, April 14, while on April 26 and 27 Lefkoşa’s Atatürk Cultural Centre will host selections for the first High School Voice singing competition — to conclude with the final at Gazimağusa’s Rauf Raif Denktaş Culture and Congress Hall at 8pm on May 16. May 14 will see a 6pm awards presentation and exhibition in the same venue for school letter-writing and drawing competitions as part of the festival.

A kite-flying festival will take place at Glapsides Beach on May 21 at 5.30pm, followed four days later by a 10am dance event at the Rauf Raif Denktaş Culture and Congress Hall.

A handicrafts and ceramics exhibition is lined up for 6pm on May 29 at the Buğday Mosque, with the festival coming to an end on June 1’s World Children’s Day with a finale including a parade, shows and concert in Namık Kemal Square, starting at 5.30pm.

Gazimağusa Mayor İsmail Arter said his municipality was “excited” to be part of such an event supporting the arts and helping children to explore their talents.

Mağusa Cultural Association head Dudu Cumaoğulları said they wanted to make youngsters feel valued and “owners of the future” in the face of saddening incidents of child abuse.