Many people don’t realise that the tulip originated in Turkey. Turkey hosted the world’s first Tulip Festival more than 400 years ago, and the love for the Tulip and the tradition is still strong in Victoria today. The Tesselaar Tulip Festival Turkish Weekend is a showcase of Turkish culture. With more than 100 performers, it is a colourful and exciting weekend.

This year’s Festival will once again feature demonstrations of art, dance, music and gourmet food, where visitors will have the opportunity to celebrate, learn, and savour Turkish hospitality, culture, and heritage.

At the Tesselaar Tulip Festival Turkish Weekend you can:

• Enjoy traditional and modern Turkish couture and textiles
• Experience memorable performances of Turkish folk dances, belly dancing and authentic Turkish music, Turkish Marbling and Calligraphy, Henna body art.
• Enjoy the aromas and tastes of rich Traditional Turkish cuisine, including Gozleme, meat dishes, Adana Kebab, traditional turnip juice, desserts, baklava, Turkish delights, apricots, hazelnuts, figs, Ottoman Sliders and much more
• The Australian Turkish Mehter Band (Marching Band) will perform at 2pm on Sunday. A colourful show of culture.
• Watch the art demonstrations
• Shop in our market bazaar for hand-made Iznik ceramics, Turkish rugs, throws, bags, decorative pillows, traditional jewellery, handicrafts, and more. Turkish Magic
• Sip a cup of Turkish coffee and after you have finished, turn the cup upside down and have an reader tell you your fortune. It is fun and who knows, you may like what you hear!

Proudly presented in association with the Australian Turkish Cultural Platform

While you are there, you can discover more than a million spring flowering bulbs on show, including over half a million Tulips. As you stroll through the historic gardens you can enjoy the sculpture exhibit, pat the alpacas, indulge in traditional Dutch foods and other treats. Visit our Clog Shop, see the world’s largest Clog, find treasures in the souvenir and market stalls. See beautiful garden displays, visit our fairy garden, pick a bunch of tulips, play some old fashioned Dutch games and see historical displays. There are plenty of photo opportunities abound with Windmills, flowers and staff in traditional Dutch and Turkish costumes.

Desert Rose, Demi will Belly Dance each day. Times are to be confirmed and the Mehter Band will appear on Sunday 17th at 2pm.