Manisa's Spil Dağı Hosts 27th Karadeniz Cultural Festival

Around 15,000 participants gathered at Spil Dağı National Park in Manisa for the 27th Karadenizliler Spil Sis Dağı Yayla Şenliği. The weekend event celebrated Black Sea (Karadeniz) culture with continuous horon dancing, regional music concerts and folk‑dance shows.

The festival was organized by seven İzmir‑based cultural associations, with the Manisa Trabzonlular Association joining as a supporting partner for the first time. Local security was provided by the Şehzadeler district gendarmerie. Speakers highlighted that the gathering, first held in 1994, serves both to preserve Karadeniz traditions and to strengthen ties among diaspora communities from across Turkey.

Activities included a ceremonial entry of a horon procession, a minute of silence and the reading of the İstiklal Marşı, followed by speeches from association leaders. The day-long program featured traditional concerts and dance performances before concluding in the evening.