Kalfa Youth Festival marks 10th anniversary
Under the slogan “From a Small Village to a Big Dream”, local youth prepared for what they called the most ambitious and comprehensive festival to date. The organising committee, which worked for months to bring the event to life, said: “A youth that believes and works hard can achieve anything.”
The festival opened on Monday, August 11, and continues through Tuesday, August 12. This year’s programme featured famous artists from Türkiye, local singers and musicians, as well as DJs. The opening night headliner, Turkish singer Aydilge, received high praise from the audience.
The event attracted strong participation from young people and was attended by notable guests including Turkish Consul General in Gümülcine Aykut Ünal and his wife İlayda Ünal, Komotini Mayor Yannis Garanis and municipal council members, Rhodope MP Özgür Ferhat (New Left Party), Gümülcine Turkish Youth Union President Sedat Hasan, FEP Party Vice President Koray Bağdatlı, Western Thrace Minority University Graduates Association Vice President Ali Ali, Western Thrace Turkish Teachers’ Union Vice President Batuhan Hasan, as well as local officials and youths from surrounding villages.
Organisers expressed gratitude to sponsors and village elders for their support, saying: “Without you, this dream would have remained just an idea.” The biggest thanks went to the committee members, who spent the past three months working tirelessly without any financial compensation to make the festival happen.
