24th Cherry Festival opens in Bulatköy, celebrating Western Thrace’s agricultural heritage
Due to weather conditions, the opening ceremony was held at the festival’s concert venue, bringing together local officials, community representatives, and residents from across the region.
Among those attending were Turkish Consul General in Komotini Aykut Ünal, Rhodope MP Özgür Ferhat, Yassıköy Mayor Caner Imam, FEP Party leader Çiğdem Asafoğlu, religious officials, and representatives of minority institutions and organizations.
In his opening remarks, Mayor Caner Imam described the Cherry Festival as a long-standing tradition that has become an integral part of Western Thrace’s cultural identity. He emphasized the importance of cherries as one of the region’s signature agricultural products and praised local producers for their contributions.
The mayor also highlighted ongoing agricultural infrastructure investments, noting that recently completed irrigation projects are expected to support local farmers and strengthen regional agricultural development.
The event featured performances by the Ortacı Village Folk Dance Group and the Gümülcine Turkish Youth Union Folklore Team, drawing enthusiastic responses from festival-goers.
Visitors later toured the festival marketplace, where local products and exhibition stands attracted significant interest.
