What is Turkfest?
TurkFest is an annual cultural festival in Seattle, WA whose mission is to foster friendship, understanding, and cooperation throughout the greater community by organizing educational, entertaining, and engaging cultural programs that celebrate Turkish culture and heritage. TurkFest is a part of the Festál series presented by Seattle Center. The festival is produced by TACAWA, the Turkish American Cultural Association of Washington, and its group of committed volunteers from the Turkish-American community.
This celebration of Turkish culture has grown annually since its inception in 2001, boasting an increasing variety of traditional and contemporary performances, art and textile exhibitions, documentaries, youth activities, cuisine, workshops and genuine Turkish products vendors. The festival takes place in October every year as a part of Turkish Heritage Month celebrations as proclaimed by the Washington State Governor that also covers the celebration of the founding of the Republic of Turkey on October 29, Seattle Turkish Film Festival and commemoration of the founding father of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
Each year, TurkFest invites dancers, musicians, and artists from around the country and Turkey to share their artistic forms of expression with local audiences. TACAWA is proud to organize this free cultural event for the enjoyment of the diverse communities throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Did you know?
- Turkey, throughout its history has acted as both a crossroads of cultures and a bridge between three continents, Europe, Asia and Africa. Istanbul, capital city of three big empires is the only city in the world located on two continents, Europe and Asia.
- Turkish coffee is not just a drink, it is an experience with subsequent fortune telling. Turkish coffee’s special preparation, brewing techniques, and rich communal culture made it worthy of being inscribed in 2013 into UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
- Santa Claus (St Nicholas) was born and lived in Patara, Turkey. Turkey is the birthplace
of many historical figures such as King Midas, Herodotus and St.Paul. Sanliurfa in Turkey is known to be the City of the Prophets where Prophet Abraham, Prophet Job, Prophet Elijah and Prophet Jacob lived. The seven churches mentioned in the Book of Revelation; Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamon, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea are all found in Turkey. - Two of the world’s seven wonders are located in Turkey; Temple of Artemis, Halicarnassus Mausoleum. Noah’s Ark landed on Mount Agri in eastern Turkey.
- Gobeklitepe Temple complex in Turkey, is the oldest temple built by mankind anywhere in the world. Catalhoyuk in Turkey is known as the earliest human settlement. The first coinage in human history began in Anatolia, Turkey.
- The word Turquoise meaning Turkish, and was derived from the clear blue of the Mediterranean Sea on the southern Turkish coast.
- Tulips were first introduced to Europe by the Ottomans and quickly became all the rage over there.
- The names and terms such as Philadelphia, Smyrna, Magnesium, Amazon, Troy, parchment paper, sofa, ottoman, yoghurt, kefir, baklava, shish kebab, doner, shawarma, pida bread, dolma were originated from Turkey or Turkish culture.