Ovit Plateau Festival celebrates cultural heritage in Rize

The 26th Ovit Plateau Festival, organized by the Ekşioğlu Foundation, took place at an altitude of 2,640 meters in the İkizdere district of Rize. The event aimed to preserve the region's cultural heritage, local arts, and centuries-old plateau traditions.

Festival activities included reenactments of traditional plateau migrations featuring women in local attire and decorated livestock accompanied by tulum music. Competitions such as a cow and calf beauty contest, sack races, and egg-and-spoon races were held for adults and children.

The final program featured musical performances by artists including Eypio, Altay, Osman Akbulut, Yasemin Yıldız, Gökhancan Boşnakoğlu, and Serhan İlbeyi. Local officials noted that the festival serves as a vital tool for regional promotion, tourism, and social cohesion.