Turkey's lavender festivals attract visitors in Osmaniye and Tekirdağ

The fifth edition of the Traditional Lavender and Olive Flower Festival was held in the village of Bekereci, Kadirli district, Osmaniye Province. The event showcased expansive lavender fields, photo opportunities, and stalls where local women displayed hand‑made lavender products such as oils, soaps, and cosmetics, which are exported to markets in South Africa and France.

In Tekirdağ, lavender farms opened to the public on weekends, drawing nature‑loving tourists from Istanbul and surrounding areas. Visitors enjoyed walking among the rows of lavender, taking photographs, and sampling lavender‑flavored ice cream and soda, while farm owners reported that the season, running from mid‑June to mid‑July, contributes to local tourism.

Both locations highlighted the growing popularity of lavender cultivation as a source of rural tourism and small‑business development in Turkey.