The traditional Charity Bazaar and Spring Festival organized by Bülbülzade Foundation was held at Festivaller Park between June 11–14, 2026, with the participation of thousands of people from Gaziantep and numerous guests from outside the city.
The traditional Spring Festival, which serves as an important bridge of solidarity in Gaziantep’s social and cultural life, this year witnessed some of the finest examples of social unity within the vast grounds of Festivaller Park. Mosaic Women and Family Association, Hayata Dokun Orphan Association, Pusula Bookstore, Katre Art and Science Center, as well as the foundation’s children, secondary education, project, and media units took their places at the festival with their own stands. While introducing their activities to visitors, the stands also offered Gaziantep’s traditional culinary delicacies and handmade products carefully prepared by the foundation’s volunteer women and the mothers of orphans under the umbrella of Hayata Dokun Orphan Association.
CITY OFFICIALS ATTENDED THE OFFICIAL OPENING
As part of the festival, in which ESC international volunteers also took active roles, the Common Future Meeting was held with the participation of Syrian community leaders to discuss the new era in Syria. The official opening ceremony, organized on the second day of the event, was attended by Gaziantep Provincial Mufti Mustafa Soykök, Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Mayor Feray Yılmaz, Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Secretary General Abdülkadir Sökücü, Bülbülzade Foundation President Turgay Aldemir, Mosaic Women and Family Association President Rabia Aldemir, foundation unit coordinators, volunteers, and many invited guests.
THE EXCITEMENT OF THE FIRST DAY BEGAN WITH CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES
The program on Thursday, June 11, the first day of the festival, opened at 4:00 PM with the “Children’s Songs” performances by children aged 4–6 on the main stage. Immediately afterward, at 5:00 PM, an Environmental Walk for children aged 4–12 was held within the festival grounds. Toward the evening, artistic workshop activities gained momentum with a Salt Ceramic Workshop for children aged 7–11 organized inside the stand area at 6:00 PM. The closing event of the first day was the Art Workshop for children aged 7–11, which began at 7:00 PM in the stand area, allowing children to enjoy the festival from the very first day.
INCLUSIVE MUSIC EVENTS TOOK THE STAGE
On Friday, June 12, the second day of the festival, field activities started at 4:00 PM with a Mind and Intelligence Games Workshop set up in front of the stand area. At 5:00 PM, Family Competitions were held on the stage with the participation of children aged 4–12. At 6:00 PM, an activity titled “Marbling Art Simulation” was carried out within the Art Workshop at the stand area. At 7:00 PM, the adventurous Treasure Hunt Game brought children together in the stand area, while at 7:30 PM an Aikido demonstration was presented in front of the stage by instructors and students. At 8:00 PM, an Environmental Walk was organized throughout the festival grounds. Simultaneously, a Mini Concert and Performance prepared by the students of GAP School for the Visually Impaired met with the audience on the main stage. Following the Banner Preparation Activity in front of the stage at 8:30 PM, Friday’s program concluded at 9:00 PM with the Katre Instructors’ Music Recital on the stage.
CULTURAL TOURNAMENTS AND CHILDREN’S CHOIR TOOK PLACE
The program on Saturday, June 13, opened at 11:00 AM with Henna Application inside the stand area. At 1:00 PM, a Drama Workshop on the stage and a Wallet-Making Art Workshop inside the stand area began simultaneously. At 2:00 PM, an Art Workshop themed around Turkish Tile Art was conducted in front of the stand area while an Environmental Walk was organized throughout the festival grounds. At 5:00 PM, a Wood Painting Activity took place in front of the stand area and a Giant Painting Activity was held in front of the stage. At 6:00 PM, Traditional Children’s Games were played in front of the stage, followed at 6:30 PM by a Taekwondo demonstration presented by instructors and students. In the evening program, Katre Art Activities were held in front of the stage at 7:00 PM. Saturday concluded at 8:00 PM with a Talk and Music Recital featuring Hüseyin Rahmi Açıkkol, Bekir Taha Güvenç, Asım Mıhçıoğlu, and İbrahim Alisinanoğlu on the main stage.
KNOWLEDGE COMPETITIONS WERE ORGANIZED
The final day of the Spring Festival, Sunday, June 14, began at 11:00 AM with Henna Application inside the stand area. At 1:00 PM, a Recycling Workshop was held in front of the stand area, followed by the Crazy Cups Game on the stage at 2:00 PM. At 3:00 PM, the Environmental Walk was repeated throughout the festival grounds, while the afternoon program featured religious and cultural competitions. At 4:00 PM, the Seerah Knowledge Competition was held on the main stage, followed by the Prophets’ History Knowledge Competition at 4:30 PM. At 5:00 PM, a Karate demonstration by instructors and students was presented in front of the stage. During the final musical activities of the festival, a Children’s Choir Performance took place on the stage at 6:00 PM, and the grand organization officially concluded at 7:00 PM with the Katre Instructors’ Music Recital.
A HEARTFELT THANK YOU FROM US TO YOU
As Bülbülzade Foundation, we sincerely thank all the people of Gaziantep who helped transform Festivaller Park into a center of goodness for four days, shared in the smiles of children, and contributed to our charity bazaar. We extend our gratitude to our dedicated volunteers, units, and associations who worked tirelessly from the first moment of the organization to the very last, as well as to the city officials and all our guests who never left us alone throughout this meaningful event. To everyone who stood with us in this special gathering where we deeply experienced the beauty of solidarity, sharing, and togetherness, we express our heartfelt appreciation and look forward to meeting again in the coming years with even greater excitement.
