The 17th Apricot Festival, organized by Çatalköy-Esentepe Municipality, began last night in Esentepe with a parade. The festival, which featured colorful displays, attracted great interest from the public. The opening ceremony of the festival, sponsored by Telsim Vodafone, was attended by members of parliament, mayors, and numerous guests. The evening included folk dance performances, a performance by the Ahenk Turkish Music Choir, the Academy of Arts Association’s “Anka – Wings of Time” fashion show, and a performance by Group Frekans. At the stalls in the festival area, apricot products, local foods, and handicrafts were available for visitors. The festival will continue today with various events. The popular music group Yeni Türkü will perform on the final night.