THE TURKISH FESTIVAL

AN ANNUAL CULTURAL HERITAGE CONVENTION

Halil Demir in a suit and tie speaking at a podium with a microphone, holding his hand over his heart, smiling, on a dark stage.

Since 2024, Halil Demir has helped shape the Chicago Turkish Festival into a growing cultural institution, organizing the event twice at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. 

Held in partnership with Anadolu Agency as its global communication partner, the festival has brought together thousands of visitors to experience Turkish culture through food, music, arts, and shared traditions while also creating a welcoming space for Americans to engage with a culture they may not otherwise encounter. 

As a founding committee member, he takes particular pride in how a minority community came together for the event that both enriched Chicago’s multicultural life and introduced different cultures to a broad American audience.

INVITE HIM FOR YOUR EVENT

2025 TURKISH FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS

Banner for the 2nd Annual Turkish Festival at Rosemont Convention Center, May 23-25, 2025, with logos of various sponsors and partners.
Traditional Turkish dancers in ceremonial attire perform a dance in a circular formation with musicians playing drums and a flag bearer at the center, surrounded by an audience taking photos at an indoor cultural event.
Three men in suits engaged in conversation at a professional event, with several other people in the background.
Two men in suits having a conversation at a Turkish Festival, with a banner in the background that reads 'Welcome to the Turkish Festival' and features a mosque and traditional dancers.
A man with glasses playing a violin during a musical performance, with other musicians in the background.
A man dressed in traditional red ceremonial attire with a tall hat, holding a flag, standing in front of a man wearing armor and a metallic hat, amidst a crowd in formal and ceremonial clothing.
Man in red costume and tall traditional hat playing a flute at a cultural event with other performers in similar costumes in the background.
Five young women in black outfits and white bandanas perform a dance on stage, with a colorful scenic backdrop behind them.
A joyful man wearing a white traditional outfit and turban shaking hands with a bald man in a dark suit, with two other men observing in the background, indoors.
Halil Demir in a blue suit speaking at a podium during a Turkish festival event in Chicago, IL, on May 25-26, 2023.
Two people are smiling and talking at a conference, one with a beard and gray hair, the other with red hair wearing a name tag that reads 'Rev. CJ Hawking'.
Two men in suits are standing in front of a banner that reads 'Welcome to the Turkish Festival.' The background features images of Turkish architecture, a mosque, and people in traditional clothing.
A woman and a child dressed in traditional Central Asian clothing, sitting on a patterned rug in a decorated room with textiles and artwork.
Group of people in formal attire gathered at the Turkish Festival with two men in the foreground, one giving a thumbs-up.
A young boy sitting at a table, painting a colorful flower on a book page with watercolor paints.
Market stall decorated with Turkish flags, displaying various textiles, clothing, and accessories for sale. Mannequins and hanging garments are visible in the background.
A man with glasses and a beard sitting at a small wooden table, working on a piece of metal with a hammer and chisel at an art or craft booth, with decorative metal items displayed in the background.
A man dressed in a red and gold ceremonial outfit and a traditional headpiece, holding a large cymbal, smiling at an indoor event with a group of people in uniform in the background.
Children dancing or jumping on a red carpeted floor during an indoor event, with adults and various individuals standing in the background.
Men dressed in traditional Turkish costumes performing a dance on stage at the Turkish Festival, with a backdrop featuring Turkish decor and the event name displayed prominently.
A person sitting at a table with traditional metal and brass decorative items, operating a pottery wheel or craft device, with a large screen showing a close-up of their hands working on a clay piece.
Two male chefs standing in a food stall kitchen, one holding a cloth or towel, with a vertical rotisserie with meat in the background and various kitchen equipment around.
A woman speaking at a podium during the Turkish Festival in Chicago, Illinois, held from May 23 to 25, 2025. She is wearing a bright pink blazer, black glasses, and a patterned lanyard.
A woman dressed in traditional attire with jewelry is painting a young girl's face at a cultural event. Other children and adults are gathered around.”}
Six women dressed in traditional Turkish costumes, performing a dance on stage at a Turkish Festival, with a backdrop displaying a logo and the words "TURKISH FESTIVAL."
A man in glasses and a suit speaking at a podium during the Turkish Festival in Chicago, Illinois, May 23-25, 2025.
A group of men dressed in colorful traditional Ottoman-style costumes, some playing drums and others holding flags, are performing at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.
A man and woman dressed in medieval or fantasy costumes, holding hands, standing in an indoor market or convention center.
Group of people dressed in traditional Turkish and cultural costumes, posing for a photograph at an indoor cultural event with Turkish flags and banners in the background, including one with the Turkish national flag.
Women dressed in traditional costumes performing on stage with velvet tops and gold embroidered pants.