Turkish Festival Returns to Chicago's Rosemont Area

The Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Chicago, hosted the Turkish Festival for the second time from May 23 to 25, 2025. The event celebrated Turkish culture and attracted twice as many visitors as last year.

The festival opened with a march by the traditional Ottoman Janissary band and mesmerizing whirling dervish performances. Attendees enjoyed authentic Turkish cuisine, crafts, and artworks such as marbling, illumination, calligraphy, and ceramics displayed across over 200 booths.

Distinguished guests included Turkey’s Ambassador to Washington, Sedat Önal, Azerbaijan’s Ambassador Khazar Ibrahim, and Mehmet Kasım Gülpınar, Mayor of Şanlıurfa Metropolitan Municipality. Ambassador Önal highlighted the festival’s role in strengthening Turkish-American relations, while Ambassador Ibrahim emphasized the close bond between Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Additionally, Turkish Airlines hosted a raffle awarding round-trip tickets to Turkey to the first 2,000 attendees. The festival aimed not only to showcase Turkish culture but also to build bridges among diverse communities and promote social unity.