Oludeniz Events, Things to Do and Festivals 2014 / 2015
(Oludeniz, Mugla Province, Turkey)
Oludeniz offers a handful of exciting festivals and events, although you will need to travel about to get the best out of the south-west. Nearby Fethiye, Marmaris, and Antalya, further afield, offer more exciting things to do.
The Air Games Festival each October is the number one unique event in Oludeniz and sees many paragliders launching themselves off the mountain to much fanfare from the beach. Marmaris puts on a collection of concerts as well as a tango festival, while Antalya offers sophisticated choir and opera performances.
Oludeniz Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015
January
- New Year's Day (Yilbasi) - January 1st, a good time to holiday here, when hotels and beaches are quiet, and temperatures are still pleasantly warm
February
- Festival of Sugar (Seker Bayrami), marking the end of Ramadan and lasting around three days. This event sees much feasting and the exchanging of gifts
- Kurban Bayrami - a religious holiday often referred to as the 'Festival of Sacrifice', remembering the story of Abraham and his son Isaac
March
- There are no significant annual events taking place in Oludeniz during the month of March
April
- International Choir Festival (Antalya) - early April sees the arrival of this contemporary music fest, with choirs from all over Europe and the Middle East
- International Children's Festival - late April, a week-long event in nearby Fethiye, with kids from many countries enjoying cultural exchanges. This extravaganza is for the younger generation and features a parade and all sorts of fun activities
May
- Labour and Solidarity Day (Emek ve Dayanisma Gunu) - May 1st, a national holiday throughout Turkey
- Cala'ay Carnival - a two-day event with a large parade on day one and an open-air concert on day two. Leading up to the event is a week of activities, including handicrafts and lots of Turkish street food
- Tomato Festival (Fethiye) - early May, Fethiye celebrates the humble tomato along with many other towns and cities in Turkey. People come from all over to pick ripe tomatoes and enjoy the ensuing activities
- Commemoration of Ataturk - May 19th, a national Turkish holiday
June
- Aspendos International Opera-Ballet Festival (Antalya) - June and July, held in Antalya's spectacular Aspendos Amphitheatre. This interesting event sees ballet groups and opera companies from Europe and the Middle East providing a feast of modern-day dance and opera
July
- Marmaris Concerts - nearby Marmaris puts on a range of lively music events throughout July and August at its amphitheatre. Acts from around the world participate
August
- Victory Day (Zafer Bayrami) - August 30th, a national Turkish holiday remembering the end of the Turkish Independence War in 1922. This special day pays tribute to the country's armed forces
September
- Marmaris Tango Festival - mid-September, another favourite Marmaris get-together sees couples doing the tango in an event that attracts big name tango aficionados from around Europe
- Ramadan - the traditional month of fasting for Turkish Muslims, where locals hold off eating and drinking during the day
October
- International Air Games - mid-October, Oludeniz's biggest event involves reams of paragliders descending from Babadag Mountain over four days, landing the main beach. October is the best time of the year to paraglide
- Mxonfest (Fethiye) - mid-October, with a variety of competitions hosted by the Turkish Motorcycle Federation, including a large rock festival
- Republic Day (Cumhuriyet Bayrami) - October 29th, a national holiday honouring this historic day in 1923, when the government of Turkey was declared a republic
November
- Anniversary of the Death of Ataturk - November 10th, the whole country observes a minute of silence in the morning, commemorating the death of its founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk (1881 to 1938)
December
- Eid ul-Adha - marking 70 days after the end of Ramadan, this four-day event involves feasting and merriment for local Muslims
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