Canakkale's Troy Festival marks 50 th year in august

The official program of the 50th edition of Canakkale's annual and longest-running festival, the International Troia (Troy) Festival, which will take place next month under the slogan "Baris Kulturumuz Olsun" (Let peace be our culture), has been announced, the Dogan news agency has reported. The festival will open on Aug. 15 with a ceremonial procession starting in front of the Canakkale Municipality building. Then, a gala program will be held in the public garden of the city, at the end of which the Homer Science, Culture and Arts Award winner will be honored. Dance troupes from many countries around the world, including Moldavia, Croatia and Hungary, will perform shows throughout the festival, along with the Turkish dance ensemble Anadolu Atesi (Fire of Anatolia). The festival will also see concerts by acclaimed names and groups such as jazz vocalist Julide Ozcelik, traditional Turkish music ensemble Ince Saz and Germany's Duisburg Philharmonic Orchestra. Turkish pop-singer and songwriter Sezen Aksu will take to the stage on Aug. 16 to play a concert in what will be the closing performance of the festival. The five-day festival celebrates the discovery of the ancient site of Troy every August with a packed program, featuring international folk dance competitions, colorful street parades enacting the legend of Helen and Paris, exhibitions, music concerts and various sporting events.