Monterey Turkish Arts and Cultural Festival (26th Annual)

Date & Time:

• Saturday, August 29, 2026, 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
• Sunday, August 30, 2026, 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Location: Custom House Plaza, Monterey State Historic Park, Monterey, California
Admission: Free, family-friendly

About the event:
Presented by the Turkish American Association of California (TAAC), this festival has spent 26 years celebrating Turkish culture through music, dance, art, food, and community, bringing together residents and visitors from across California on Monterey's beautiful waterfront.

New for 2026:

• Whirling Dervish performances on both days
• Ebru (Turkish water marbling) art demonstrations (recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage)
• Turkish carpet weaving demonstrations

Featured food & treats:

• Maraş Dondurması (Turkish ice cream made with goat's milk, salep, and mastic — known for its stretchy texture, served sliced with a knife and eaten with a fork)
• Simit (sesame-crusted bread ring)
• Turkish coffee (UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage) and coffee fortune-telling demonstrations
• Turkish Delight (Lokum) in flavors like rose, pistachio, pomegranate, citrus, and walnut
• Kebabs, baklava, savory pastries, and other traditional dishes

Other activities: Live Turkish music and folk dance performances, artisan vendors, cultural exhibits, traditional costume presentations

2026 Contest: "What's Your Favorite Turkish Food and Why?" — 50-word-or-less entries, with 3 winners drawn at random to receive $50 in festival food vouchers

Contact: turkfestca.org | Facebook: facebook.com/groups/turkfestmonterey