The 13th Annual Chicago Turkish Festival will feature demonstrations of art, dance, music and much more, where locals and visitors will get the opportunity to experience, learn and savor Turkish hospitality, culture, heritage and cuisine.
Without leaving the comfort of the Daley Plaza, guests will visit and enjoy various regions of Turkey together with the participants from Turkey and Turkish-Americans living in the culturally diverse community of Chicago. Guests will be able to browse through and buy Turkish products, souvenirs, art and handicrafts, find travel information, participate in activities for children, view many authentic demonstrations and performances, sample Turkish cuisine, and much more.
Festival-goers will enter the Plaza through the doors of a traditional Safranbolu House and enjoy the Land of Civilizations exhibit reflecting the history of Anatolia and the Turkish Republic. They can then walk through the captivating sights and sounds of guest city Kahramanmaras, home to the world-famous ice cream made of fine goat milk and wild orchid flower roots growing in the surrounding mountains.
During the festival, you can enjoy live midday and evening shows of marching Ottoman Military Band, memorable Turkish Folk Dance performances, Whirling Dervishes, traditional and modern Fashion Show of Turkish couture and textiles, and authentic Turkish classical and folk music concerts. You can also watch the artistic demonstrations of paper marbling, calligraphy, illuminations, copper and ceramic art, carpet weaving, silver filigree, and more. Looking for something unique? Shop for handmade arts and crafts from Aegean region, Kutahya ceramics, Cappadocia ceramics and pottery, Turkish rugs, throws, bags, decorative pillows, glassware, traditional jewelry, handicrafts, and more.
Naturally, you’ll want a bite to eat, so enjoy the aromas and tastes of rich Ottoman Turkish cuisine, sample gourmet food, including Turkish style grilled kabobs, doner sandwiches, vegetable and meat dishes, desserts including baklava at restaurant booths; shop for Turkish delights, apricots, hazelnuts, figs at Best Turkish Food stand; taste Turkish beer at or EFES Beer Garden, and much more. You can also taste other popular Turkish culinary delights such as Turkish style bagel (simit); have a slice of world-famous MADO’s unique Kahramanmaras orchid ice cream; or sip a cup of Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi’s Turkish coffee.
There’s plenty for kids to do as well, including all sorts of activities from the Turkish shadow theater, face painting and games, as well as find out about Turkish Classes at TACA booth.
The purpose of the annual Chicago Turkish Festival is to introduce Turkish history, culture, music, art, cuisine, and hospitality to the culturally diverse community of Chicago and Midwest USA. Every year participants from Turkey and Turkish-Americans living in Chicago get together and organize the festival under the leadership of the Turkish Consulate General of Chicago and The Turkish-American Cultural Alliance.
The Chicago Turkish Festival is held in the heart of downtown Chicago, at Daley Plaza across from the City Hall or at Pioneer Court on Michigan Avenue by the Tribune and NBC towers. Since the festival is held at the heart of downtown Chicago, tens of thousands of visitors get to enjoy the festival daily.
