Manavgat, which has a share of more than 61 percent of Türkiye's 6,65 billion dollars worth of tourism revenue with a value of 10 billion dollars, made an ambitious entrance to the world stage in gastronomy tourism with its flavors reflecting its cultural heritage with the International Manavgat Crete to Side Culture and Flavor Festival. The opening events of the festival hosted by Manavgat Municipality featured colorful scenes.
The International Manavgat Crete to Side Culture and Flavor Festival, which will introduce Cretan dishes and create a unique atmosphere with musical events and folk dances until the evening of Saturday, April 26, began with a procession in the Side Ancient City and the opening ceremony at the Temple of Apollo.
Foreign tourists competed with each other to take pictures with their mobile phones
The festival host Manavgat Mayor Dr. Niyazi Nefi Kara, Crete Chania Deputy Mayor Eleni Zervoudaki and Chania Municipality Deputy Culture Director Ioannis Giannakakis, guests from Crete and all around Türkiye and citizens participated in the procession. While the participants in the approximately one kilometer procession marched along to the songs sung by the marching band, tourists who came to visit the Ancient City of Side recorded the joyful moments with their mobile phones and shared them with the whole world.
The official opening ceremony of the International Manavgat Crete to Side Culture and Flavor Festival was held on the stage set up right next to the Temple of Apollo. After a moment of silence for the Founder of the Republic of Turkey, the Great Leader Atatürk and all martyrs, and the reading of the National Anthem, the first speech was made by Manavgat Mayor Dr. Niyazi Nefi Kara.
“We aim to make Manavgat a center of attraction in gastronomy tourism as well”
Mayor Kara emphasized that Manavgat is not only a summer destination but also a cultural and natural treasure to be discovered in every season of the year. Stating that they aim to make Manavgat a center of attraction in gastronomy tourism, Mayor Kara expressed that the International Manavgat Crete to Side Culture and Flavor Festival is of great importance in achieving this goal.
Mayor Kara said, “We are all witnessing the birth of a very special festival where culture, history and gastronomy are intertwined. We are bringing together the elegant culture of Crete, kneaded by the sea, with the mystical streets of Side. This festival is not only entertainment, but also a strong reflection of Manavgat’s cultural vision.”
Mayor Kara drew attention to the fact that artists, chefs and academics from Crete have strengthened the historical and cultural ties between the two geographies with dance shows, talks and presentations of flavors. Mayor Kara emphasized that their fellow citizens who migrated from the city of Chania in Crete before the population exchange and settled in Side have kept Crete's rich culinary culture alive, and announced that Manavgat Municipality and Chania Municipality will be sister cities. Mayor Kara thanked the festival's main sponsors, Barut Tourism Board Chairman Cengiz Haydar Barut and Seher Hotels Board Chairman Ali Güneş.
Chania Municipality administrators gave messages reinforcing the feelings of friendship and brotherhood
Deputy Mayor of Chania Eleni Zervoudaki and Deputy Mayor of Chania Ioannis Giannakakis also gave messages in their speeches, stating that the cultural and taste fusion of the people of Crete and Side is very valuable and will contribute greatly to the strengthening of friendship and brotherhood. Deputy Mayor of Chania Ioannis Giannakakis, after his speech, took the piano on stage and sang a popular Cretan song.
Manavgat and Cretan dancers performed in the silhouette of the Temple of Apollo
During the opening ceremony, the performances of the Manavgat Municipality Folklore Team and the Cretan Folk Dance Group were watched with interest by both festival guests and foreign tourists under the shadow of the columns of the Temple of Apollo. The Cretan dancers, who danced to the songs performed by master musicians Georgis Skounakis and Emmanouil Ntaountakis, received great applause.
Cretan dancers and musicians ignored the rain and sang cheerful songs
The enthusiastic opening ceremony was ended by a sudden downpour, but Cretan dancers and musicians began singing joyful songs on the stage protected from the rain. Tourists, unfazed by the rain, joined the Cretans in their celebration with applause.
Coming to the stage where the celebrations continued despite the rain, Mayor Kara, who sat at the piano, kept time with the unforgettable songs sung by his daughter İpek Kara and his soloist friend İpek Dizdar, with applause from the guests.
A consensus was reached to hold a similar festival in Crete
Later, a reception was held for the festival guests at the Manavgat Cretan Culture House. Mayor Kara, Chania Municipality administrators and tourism doyens who provided main sponsorship support for the festival gave messages of friendship at the museum brought to Side by Manavgat Municipality to keep alive and promote the cultural heritage of Cretan immigrants. At this meeting, a consensus was reached to hold a similar festival in Crete. Mayor Kara presented plaques of appreciation to the guest municipal administrators and the business people who are the main sponsors of the festival.
The Sofia Vossou concert in the evening program of the festival was canceled due to unfavorable weather conditions.
