The festival, now in its 13th year, continues over 3 days and people from the UK, Germany, Greece and Turkey are expected to attend the festival. All events over the 3 day period will be free of charge.
The festival was started in 1995 by former Mayor Mehmet Soysalan and his wife Zulal Soysalan. Next year Mr. Mehmet Soysalan won Abdi Ipekci International Peace Price.
There are some notable first time events happening this year
Football teams from Turkey and Greece will play for the first time in Didim. Didim FC will play Samos FC in a friendship match at the Didim City Stadium on Sunday.
First time in Didim after the accident
Ferhat Gocer, the famous singer in Turkey who recently was involved in a car accident on the Didim junction of the Bodrum road on June 26th this year, will give a concert on Altinkum beach this Tuesday night.
The events for this year’s festival are listed below
31st August (Sunday)
12:00 Beach Volley Tournament-Altinkum Main Beach
12:30 Sand Statues- Altinkum Main Beach- Fine arts students from different universities will make statues from sand.
14:00 Opening ceremony of the painting exhibition: Central Park
15:00 Folk dance performance- Folk dance groups from the Black Sea and South east Turkey will perform.
18:00 Opening ceremony of Peace festival - Stadium
18:30 Folk dance performance- Folk dance groups from the Black Sea and South east Turkey will perform. - Stadium
19:00 Turkey vs. Greece football match- Didim FC from Turkey and Samosspor FC from Greece will play at Didim FC Stadium.
21:00 Folk dance performance- Akbuk harbour
21:30 Hacivat vs. Karagoz-(Shadow Performance) An ancient Turkish entertainment which is based upon reflecting light on the screen by a puppet show ( Highly Recommended)
1st September (Monday)
10:00 Peace running-From the Apollon Temple to Altinkum Beach
11:00 Beach Volley tournament- Altinkum Beach
13:00 Sand Statues
13:30 Painting workshop- Council Library- Central Park
17:00 Folk Dance performance- Mavisehir Ataturk Park
18:00 Peace walk- From Medusa Disco to Peace Statue (Customs building)
19:00 Peace flame - Customs Building
19:30 Peace trip by boats- Customs building
21:00 Folk Dance performance- Peace Park Altinkum
21:30 Group Mavi (Folk Music Concert) - Altinkum Beach
23:00 Tolga Candar (Folk Music Concert) - Altinkum Beach
2nd September (Tuesday)
10:00 Photography exhibition- “13 years of the Peace Festival” - Didim Council
12:00 Beach Volleyball Tournament - Final Game-Altinkum Beach
15:00 Hacivat vs. Karagoz-(Shadow Performance) An ancient Turkish entertainment which is based upon reflecting light on the screen by a puppet show (Highly Recommended)
15:30 National Folk Dance performance - Theatre- Central Park
18:30 National Folk Dance performances from Turkey and Greece - Mavisehir Park
22:00 Ferhat Gocer (pop music concert) - Altinkum Beach
00:00 Fireworks show - Altinkum Beach
