Turkish Festival returns to Tinley Park with food, fun and flights

By Kelly White

For one weekend in August, visitors won’t have to travel across the globe to experience the culture, food and traditions of Türkiye.

The third annual Turkish Festival returns to the Tinley Park Convention Center on Aug. 1 and 2, bringing two days of authentic cuisine, live entertainment, cultural exhibits and shopping to the south suburbs. The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day at the convention center, 18451 Convention Center Drive in Tinley Park.

One of the festival’s biggest draws is the Grand Bazaar, where admission is free. Modeled after Istanbul’s famous marketplace, the bazaar will feature vendors selling handcrafted jewelry, textiles, home décor and gifts alongside traditional Turkish foods, including kebabs, baklava and freshly brewed Turkish coffee.

Beyond the marketplace, visitors can purchase tickets for live performances, cultural workshops and a speaker series highlighting Türkiye’s history, traditions and heritage.

Festivalgoers also can enter a raffle featuring five round-trip flights to Istanbul provided by Turkish Airlines as the grand prizes. Additional prizes include language-learning programs, gourmet food experiences, hair restoration services and wellness packages.

The Turkish Festival returns to Tinley Park Aug. 1-2.

All proceeds from the raffle will benefit humanitarian projects supported by the Bridgeview-based Zakat Foundation of America.

Organizers said the festival is designed to introduce visitors to Turkish culture while creating an opportunity for people of all backgrounds to gather through food, music and shared experiences.

Admission to the Grand Bazaar is free. Tickets are available for stage performances, workshops, speakers and raffle entries.