With the arrival of spring and with summer close behind, numerous festivals continue to colour the streets of Balıkesir. The next upcoming festival is designed to make your tastebuds dance. The Balıkesir International Breakfast Festival, held for the first time this year, will be open from June 2-5. The slogan “Happiness Abounds (Çok Mutluluk)”, defines this aim of this event: the freshest festival the city can present, offering a unique social experience to its visitors.
Festival Program
The first Balıkesir International Breakfast Festival consists of a full program that is spread over four days. The calendar of the events to be held in Avlu Balıkesir consists of, among others, an exhibition of local specialties, discussion panels, chefs’ show, tasting events, competitions, tasting talks, live onstage performances, and concerts. The festival offers an enjoyable atmosphere to its visitors, with activities commencing at 10:00 in the morning and lasting until midnight every day.
On Thursday, June 2, the first day of the festival, the opening program kicks off with a celebratory procession at 10:00. After the opening festivities, breakfast will be served, with a focus on local delicacies. At different times of the day, various treats suitable for mealtimes will be served to the public. Throughout the festival calendar, panels, interviews, and shows — not only about Balıkesir but on the surrounding cities and different cuisines — are offered to pique the visitor’s interest. The “Convert Waste to Product (Atığını Ürüne Dönüştür)” competition at 18:00 is an event specifically designed to draw attention to environmental sensitivity. In accordance with the theme of the festival, which is an international event, examples from world cuisine will also be exposed to the visitors. For instance, another highlight of the first day is a Special Show with the Chief of the South Korean Embassy… At the end of the first day, the entertainment is rounded out with a live concert by singer, composer, and musician Melek Mosso.
Day 2 of the inaugural event begins at 10:00 with a focus on local treats. Village-Style Sourdough Bread and Jam Varieties (Ekşi Mayalı Köy Ekmeği ve Reçel Çeşitleri), which are particular specialties of Balıkesir cuisine, will be exhibited and served at this event, which is a tasty way to start the day. The program of the day continues with catering, competitions, and panels, and also includes a workshop event. The “Breakthrough Breakfast Product Development Workshop (Engelleri Aşan Kahvaltılık Ürün Geliştirme Atölyesi)” event is included in number of activities on the calendar which have been specifically designed to be accessible for people with disabilities.
On the third day of the festival, Balıkesir’s famous local olives and cheeses take pride of place at the opening breakfast. These magnificent flavours of the region, which is famous for savoury varietals, are presented to the visitors in a number of innovative and delicious preparations. Among the highlights of Day 3 are presentations featuring seafood and flavours from different regions.
The fourth day of the festival will also be the setting for many vibrant events. The ultimate breakfast, plan to launch the day with lentil soup among the local treats. This event focusses on those who prefer soup in the morning as well as those who want to give it a try for the first time. At any rate, make sure not to miss this soup! After a full day’s events including a gastronomy panel, the “Balıkesir höşmerim production show”, a discussion panel on breakfast culture, and a Swiss bread event, the First Balıkesir International Breakfast Festival will come to an end with the closing concert.
The event is open to all visitors. You can be in Avlu Balıkesir at any time without having to register or make a reservation for the festival, all of which are free of charge.
Easily book your place among Balıkesir hotels to spend a sea holiday and a festival together!
Experience the Rich Tastes
Balıkesir, which occupies a significant position within the borders of Marmara and Aegean Region, is a city famous for its rich cuisine. Balıkesir, which is known to every Turk for its variety of olives, olive oil and cheese, specialises in so many tastes that some visitors will experience them for the first time. All will be introduced by presenting attendees with different surprises through the festival. Farm-to-Table: Some of these delicacies, which also arouse interest with their surprising names, will be collected directly from the farmers of the area and tasted at their freshest by being served directly to your table.
Balıkesir’s breakfast products are branded under the umbrella of “Balıkesir Breakfast”, each with its rich content of quality flavours. It is a very special opportunity to buy the fresh products directly from the local producers who are hosting stands at the festival, without intermediaries. The producers will be thrilled to offer you a sample taste of their delicious products on the spot and provide information about the products they grow. This fertile city, which amazes everyone with its natural beauties, has countless flavours to offer!
Balıkesir, a City for Every Season
Food producers of all sizes, from local farmers to industrial manufacturers will unite at the festival, which is held to highlight the gastronomic aspects of the city of Balıkesir. With the motto “Balıkesir Full of Taste (Lezzet Dolu Balıkesir)”, introduced in the event’s launch presentation, locals and tourists alike are invited to consider the fact that Balıkesir and its surroundings combined off a multi-faceted city experience that is open to visitors not only for summer tourism but also all year round. The scope of the Brand City Balıkesir (Marka Şehir Balıkesir) study, is aimed to increase awareness of the city’s regional flavours throughout the country and in the world. The festival highlights Balıkesir’s gastronomic values, including local products which have been granted protected geographical indication (PGI) status which protects the city name, thus greatly contributing to the sector and the city’s economy.
