Mersin Metropolitan Municipality, which has made a name for itself with projects that prioritize children, will bring together children in many parts of Mersin at the International Children's Festival on April 23, National Sovereignty and Children's Day. The Metropolitan Municipality, which will start a series of events on April 20, will feed thousands of children with sports, culture, art and entertainment for 4 days.
The events, where thousands of children will meet in Tarsus, Silifke, Anamur as well as Özgecan Aslan Peace Square in the city center, will start with a launch to be held in shopping malls on April 21. The International Children's Festival, which will include concerts, dance shows, children's workshops, stage events, as well as a children's run and a children's bicycle festival in Tarsus, will continue with enthusiasm until April 23.
Özdülger: “A festival worthy of children”
Describing the festival, which will be held for the first time in Mersin, Director of Culture and Social Affairs Coordinator, Opera Singer Bengi İspir Özdülger said, “We are really happy and very excited. This is a festival we desire very much. Because we aimed to hold such a beautiful festival worthy of children in our city on such a meaningful day. "We are organizing this organization considering how meaningful it is and how much it suits us to celebrate with great enthusiasm this gift given to our children, our future, entrusted by Atatürk," he said.
Stating that they will celebrate April 23 National Sovereignty and Children's Day with enthusiasm all over Mersin, Özdülger said, “We will do it on 21-22 and 23 April. 14 children from 350 countries will come to our International Children's Festival. "At the same time, children's folk dance groups will come from our country, especially from earthquake zones," he said, adding that the performances of the winning children's folk dance groups will be held for 3 days.
Lots of fun for kids every day
Özdülger said that there are a series of programs planned and explained the programs as follows:
“We will start with our launch shows on the 21st, and after performing in the shopping malls in our city, we will have a cortege that will leave the forum shopping mall at 18 o'clock. We will take part in the cortege with approximately 550 children with their colorful costumes and beauties. Then we will have a concert. We will hold simultaneous shows in Tarsus, Silifke and Anamur on the 22nd of the month. We aim to bring together 21 folk dance groups in groups of 7 with our children and citizens in our districts. On the same day, we will hold the Melis Fis concert at Özgecan Aslan Barış Square in Mersin at 19.00. We will have women producer stands in Tarsus, again in Özgecan Aslan Barış Square, from the 20th until the evening of April 23. There will be workshops, playgrounds and activity areas for children. At the same time, there will be interactive games, shows and activities for children on the stages. We will also have a children's run that will start from Özgecan Aslan Peace Square on the 23rd at 14.00. We will bring the energy and beauty of children together with running. "There will be dance shows of all groups between 15.00 and 20.00 in Özgecan Aslan Square, where the main shows will take place. At 16.30, we will organize a bicycle ride festival in Tarsus with the participation of 150 children."
Stating that they aim to provide children with an unforgettable 3 days with dances, sports activities and cultural events, Özdülger said, “Our aim is; To bring people together with culture, art and sports. Sports and art are the most important glue of citizens. It is the most important element that brings them together and allows them to concentrate on just one emotion and come together with the sports match or artwork they watch. As a matter of fact, the best opportunity to represent our country abroad and of course to represent abroad in Turkey and in our city is art and sports. "We shape our work with this awareness," he said. Emphasizing that Mersin and the citizens of Mersin are very beautiful, Özdülger said, “Our target is our people; To share our beauty and present it to the whole world by bringing it together with sports, arts and cultural events. At this point, this is how we determine the vision of our work. Because we are aware that these studies bring positive results. "As always, as we have done in the last five years, our artistic works, cultural events and sports organizations will gain momentum and continue to increase in our 13 districts in the next period," he said.
“Let's share this enthusiasm and happiness together”
Noting that they will crown the festival, where the energy and beauty of children will be reflected, with many events, Özdülger said that it will be a festival worthy of Mersin, the city of love and peace. Özdülger said, “We want to organize the first of our 23 April International Children's Festival and continue it. Because we are aware of the value and unifying power of these festivals spread throughout the city. We want to integrate with our people by healing them with art, culture and sports. We invite our citizens to this festival. Because we want to share this enthusiasm and happiness together,” he said.