Launched 15 years ago to improve and strengthen ties between Turkey and Greece, the festival has now become a symbol of promoting world peace.

The festival will kick-off on Tuesday August 31 and continue for three days with theatre, concerts and panel discussions.

The Traditional Peace Race from Apollon Temple to Altınkum is on Wednesday September 1.

The Peace March will also be on Wednesday, starting from Medusa Disco at 6pm.

As every year, the peace torch will be lit at Aytepe and people will also sail on boats to mark the occasion.

Some activities will be held in Akbük.

About 100 guests are expected from Greece this year for the festival.

The programme is as follows:

TUESDAY AUGUST 31:

11am: Magic Centre Theatre Workshop, Children’s Play “Liar Fox”, Yeni Mahalle Park Amphitheatre

12:00 Beach Volley Opening, Altınkum Beach

12:30 Politikos Silogus Yoranda Folkdances Show (Greek dances), Altınkum Beach

13.00 Cumhuriyet Newspaper Book Club Stand Opening, Altınkum in front of Vakıflar

13:30 Planting Trees at the Peace Plantation for the 15th year, Sağtur up from Denizli Öğretmenler Site

13:30 Magic Centre Theatre Workshop, Super Kid Animation Show, Council Culture Hall

14:30 “Love Peace” Slide Show and “Children Make Peace Posters” Workshop with Graphic Design Tutor Tülay Çellek, Council Culture Hall

17:00 Magic Centre Theatre Workshop, Children’s Play “Liar Fox”, Akbük Ceremony Square

17:00 Interview with world-renowned war photographer and documentary director Coşkun Aral and “Children Under Fire” Slide Show, Akbük Council Türkan Saylan Culture Centre

19:00 Magic Centre Theatre Workshop, Super Kid Animation Show, Akbük Ceremony Square

20:00 Peace Festival Opening Cocktail, Apollon Temple

21:00 Samos Greek Music Band, Turkish and Greek Songs, Apollon Temple

22:30 Aegean Band Concert, Apollon Temple

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 1

10:00 Peace Race, from Apollon Temple to Altınkum

11:00 Magic Centre Theatre Workshop, Children’s Play “Liar Fox”, Denizköy Sevinç Park

11:00 Magic Centre Theatre Workshop, Children’s Play “İbiş and dancing Puppets”, Akbük Ceremony Square

11:00 “Children Draw Peace” Workshop with Cartoonist Kamil Masaracı, in front of Council Library

13:00 Politikos Silogus Yoranda Folkdances Show, in front of Council Culture Hall

13:30 Sait Günel Painting Exhibition Opening, Council Culture Hall

13:30 “Children Draw Peace” and “Children Make Peace Posters” Workshop Finals and Award Ceremony, Council Culture Hall

13:30 Magic Centre Theatre Workshop, Super Kid Animation Show, Denizköy Sevinç Park

14:00 Panel Discussion “12th September Referendum on Constitution Law Proposal” with Republican People’s Party (CHP) Group Vice-Chairman Kemal Anadol and Cumhuriyet Newspaper Columnist Orhan Bursalı, Council Culture Hall

16:00 Interview with world-renowned war photographer and documentary director Coşkun Aral and “Cries for Peace in War Frames” Slide Show, Council Culture Hall

17:00 Magic Centre Theatre Workshop, Hacivat & Karagöz Shadow Play, Denizköy Sevinç Park

17:00 Magic Centre Theatre Workshop, Children’s Play “Liar Fox”, Akköy Village Square

18:00 Peace March, from Medusa Disco to Aytepe

19:00 Magic Centre Theatre Workshop, Super Kid Animation Show, Akköy Village Square

19:00 Lighting the Peace Torch at Aytepe

19:30 Traditional Boat Tour, Altınkum Beach

20:30 Didim Folkdances Group, Urfa Region dances, Barış Park

21:00 Burçin Mini Concert, Altınkum Beach

21:30 Local singer Vedat Demirhan Mini Concert, Altınkum Beach

22:00 Showman Hakan Doğanay Singing Show, Altınkum Beach

22:30 Award Ceremony, Coşkun Aral winner of 2010 Didim Peace Award, Altınkum Beach

22:30 Famous pop & rock band Group Gripin Concert, Altınkum Beach

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 2

10:30 Beach Volley Finals and Award Ceremony, Altınkum Beach in front of Vakıflar

11:00 Magic Centre Theatre Workshop, Children’s Play “Liar Fox”, Balat Village

11:00 Magic Centre Theatre Workshop, Hacivat & Karagöz Shadow Play, Akköy Village Square

13:30 Magic Centre Theatre Workshop, Super Kid Animation Show, Balat Village

14:00 Interview with YARSAV Founder Chairman Ömer Faruk Eminağaoğlu “Heading Where with Constitutional State”, Barış Park Café

15:30 Politikos Silogus Yoranda Folkdances Show, Council Culture Hall

16:00 Panel Discussion “Peace for Children, Children for Peace” with authors Muhsine Helimoğlu Yavuz and Işıl Özgentürk, Council Culture Hall

19:00 Magic Centre Theatre Workshop, Children’s Play “İbiş and dancing Puppets”, Council Culture Show

21:00 Hakan Doğanay Show, Altınkum Beach

21:30 Cem Göç and Zeliha Gökçe Guitar Concert, Altınkum Beach

22:30 Folk music singer Onur Akın Concert, Altınkum Beach (About 15,000 people are expected)

DİDİM – First held in 2008, the 3rd Meandros Festival will be held between 25th June – 31 July. The festival will involve Didim, Söke, Kuşadası and Bafa Lake.
The programme is as follows:

Friday 25 June – Festival Opening Cocktail Party at Apollo`s Temple Didim. 9pm
Saturday 26th June – Carpet Exhibition at Priene, Güllübahçe 7pm
Film Show “Shall We Dance” 9pm
Sunday 27th June – Carpet Exhibition at Priene, Güllübahçe 6pm
“Grup Eflatun” Concert 7.30pm
Saturday 3rd July – Special Gala Performance of “Yellow Goats: They Walk The Mountains”, Apollo`s Temple, Didim 9pm
Kuşadası Municipality Castle Gate Dance Theatre, Kadı Kalesi ruins 9pm
Sunday 4th July – Meandros Culture and Nature Walk, Village Festival, Balat and Batıköy 5-6pm
Balat-Batıköy Trip 6.30pm
Monday 5th July – Meandros Jazz Concert Kuşadası, İbramaki Art Gallery 9.30pm
Saturday 10th July – Street Art Workshop and Street Festival, Kuşadası Sea Front 8.30-10.30pm
Sunday 11th July – Village Festival: Serçin Village 4pm
Saturday 17th July – Square Festival. Kapıkırı, Gölkaya Village 4pm
“Grup Eflatun” Concert 7.30pm
Sunday 18th July – Ecological Produce Market Trip: Kirazlı Village 4-6pm
Walk to Kırkayak Steps 6.30pm
Saturday 24th July – Traditional Village Wedding: Karacahayıt Village 4pm
Sunday 25th July – Kuşadası Municipality Castle Gate Dance Theatre Special Performance, Akbük Seafront 8pm
Saturday 31st July – “London School Of Symphony Orchestra” Milet Amphitheatre 9.30pm