Traditional TC events to continue this weekend

TRADITIONAL Turkish Cypriot events continue this weekend with the 17th Olive Festival which began yesterday, and the Güneşköy Pomegranate Fair and Mehmetçik’s Ziva Festival which begin today.

Entertainment in Zeytinlik was to follow an opening parade as the Girne Municipality-organised Olive Festival got under way yesterday.

Today, an early tennis tournament starts the day which will also see a pool tournament from 5pm, while a caricature workshop in cooperation with the Cyprus Turkish Cartoonists’ Association opens at 6pm.

Folk dancing and concerts take place throughout the day, along with an illustrated talk about olive soap production, and the day will conclude with a concert by Gancelli at 9pm which comes after a performance by the Friends line dancers at 8.30pm. Tomorrow, after more early tennis matches, activities for children, food competitions, pool tournament action, dance performances and concerts are all scheduled between 3pm and 9pm.

Monday’s events start at 6pm with a debate, to be followed by a Whirling Dervish Show by Studio 21. A poetry recital and a concert by Group Feveran will end the day, while the last day of the festival, Tuesday, will start with folk dancing at 7pm followed by a dance performance by Studio 21 and a concert. A festival finale will see Bülent Ortaçgil perform live at 9pm.

All stalls open at 6pm each day in Zeytinlik village square, where the entertainment also takes place.

Meanwhile, today, one of two events being held for the first time is the Ziva Festival, organised by Cittaslow member Mehmetçik Municipality and Convivium Slow Food Galatya, in Balanakko Square where stalls open at 11am. Folk dance shows begin at noon and concerts take place until 6pm.

The other first-time event is a two-day Güneşköy Pomegranate Fair organised by Güzelyurt Municipality which kicks off with a parade at 3pm today and features more than 40 stalls selling a wide range of produce and handicrafts. There will be folk dance shows and concerts taking place after 8pm, followed by a tombola.

Tomorrow, a cycle race begins at 8am, a backgammon tournament gets under way at 3pm and there will be entertainment and activities for children and adults including a competition for the best pomegranate and producer. Following concerts between 7pm and approximately 8pm, a festival finale of tombola starts at 9.30pm.

Tomorrow, the 12th Once Upon a Time Lurucina Fair organised by Akıncılar Municipality will also see entertainment between 10am and 7pm and stalls selling traditional foodstuffs and refreshments.