Mehmetçik Grape Festival opens in Northern Cyprus with international dances

The 64th Mehmetçik Grape Festival began with a large opening ceremony at the Mehmetçik Festival Area. Officials including Republic Assembly President Ziya Öztürkler, Labour and Social Security Minister Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu, Health Minister Hakan Dinçyürek, Agriculture and Natural Resources Minister Hüseyin Çavuş, and opposition leader Sıla Usar İncirli attended, along with thousands of citizens. Mayor Dr. Fatma Çimen Tuğlu highlighted the festival as a symbol of production, culture, labor and solidarity, stressing the role of local growers, cooperatives and women producers.

The program features the 9th Golden Bunch International Folk Dance Festival with groups from Mexico, Turkey, Bulgaria and Palestine, as well as beach wrestling, volleyball, a mini duathlon, backgammon, football academy tournaments and a "From Vineyard to Table" cooking contest, offering activities for all ages.