Chicago Turkish Festival draws over 15,000 visitors

The third annual Chicago Turkish Festival took place on August 1‑2 at the Tinley Park Convention Center near Chicago, Illinois. More than 15,000 attendees from across the United States visited the two‑day event, setting a new attendance record for the festival.

The program featured Turkish cultural exhibitions, academic panels on history and education, performances, sand‑art displays and a wide array of food stalls offering döner, gözleme, baklava, Turkish coffee and other traditional dishes. Organizers highlighted the festival’s role in promoting Turkish heritage during the designated "Turkish Heritage Month."

Key figures addressed the crowd, including Turkey’s Consul General in Chicago, Tahir Bora Atatanır, who emphasized the importance of cultural ties, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, who sent a video message praising the Turkish‑American community’s contributions, and YTB President Abdulhadi Turus. Media commentator Cenk Uygur also appeared, noting his first experience at a Turkish festival.