Manisa Culture Road Festival draws crowds with food and arts

The Manisa Culture Road Festival, organized by Turkey's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, featured a combined programme of gastronomy and cultural activities. Under the “Lezzet Noktası” project, 34 designated venues across Manisa and its districts (Akhisar, Alaşehir, Kula, Salihli, Turgutlu) offered local dishes such as Manisa kebab, su muhallebisi, şambali and mesir macunu. Chefs Murat Deniz Temel, Mevlüt Özkaya and Yaren Çapar led cooking events, while local entrepreneurs reported a surge in visitors and weekend sales, boosting the city’s economy.

In parallel, the festival’s cultural side presented theatre performances, notably the play “Bir Yaş Dönümü Rüyası,” and workshops on traditional leatherwork and tezhip at the Manisa Museum. These activities attracted both adults and children, providing hands‑on exposure to Turkey’s artistic heritage. Together, the food and arts components turned the event into a major draw for domestic tourists and highlighted Manisa’s culinary and cultural assets.