NC Turkish Festival – April 19, 2008
Exposition Center, Raleigh NC

3rd Annual NC Turkish Festival of 2008 was again a great success. Moving the venue to State Fairgrounds this year has at least tripled the number of participants. The visitors enjoyed a warm welcome from the Silk Road Dance Group and Bluestar Folk Dance Troupe on stage, delicious Turkish food as well as a numerous exhibits of Turkish art, culture and folklore.

Thanks to over one hundred volunteers working hard to serve and please about 3500 attendees, Exposition Center was filled with friendship and joy. Locals who are well known for their southern hospitality were delighted to experience the warm Turkish hospitality.

The world famous Turkish doner was the center piece of the Turkish Kitchen, served to over 800 people. The stage was busy with Turkish folklore, music, dances and lovely children’s song. From handcrafts to pottery, jewelry to carpets, marbling to calligraphy, Turkish coffee to baklana, it was as if the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul was brought to North Carolina.

Kids were also having fun at their corner with moonwalk, face painting, crafts, portraits, and of course cotton candy and popcorn.

Smiling faces and satisfied appetites of visitors encouraged Divan Cultural Center volunteers to tackle even bigger festivals in the coming years.

See you next year!