The Olive Blossom Festival, organized for the first time this year by the Mudanya Municipality in order to make Tirilye, which has lost 80 percent of its population in recent years, a touristic and historical city again, has ended. The festival, which welcomed its visitors for two days, was an important step that reflected its cultural richness and the labor of the producers.

Known as the “home of the olive, nature’s ancient heritage,” Tirilye hosted the Olive Blossom Festival between May 31 and June 1. Organized by the Mudanya Municipality with the motto “Let’s meet at Tirilye, the home of the olive, the flower of hope,” the festival brought history, nature and producer labor together, breathing new life into the region. The festival, which hosted a gathering celebrating the spirit of Tirilye, the story of the olive and the culture of common life, marked the beginning of the goal of bringing Tirilye to the local and economic vitality it deserves.
During this fertile season when the olive blossoms bloom for two days, the streets of Tirilye were filled with stands that brought producers and visitors together, workshops that appealed to participants of all ages, and regional flavors.

Deniz Dalgıç the Mayor of Mudanya said that Tirilye, which once teemed with life in its streets, has lost 80 percent of its population in recent years, and that this festival that started with olive blossoms is not just an event; it is a call for the rebirth of a lost city. He said: “Olives are at the foundation of everything in our past and present. Olives are also in our future. Olives are the source of life for Tirilye. We all need to come together and make Tirilye’s voice heard in order to bring Tirilye, which has been abandoned to its fate, to the place it deserves.”

SOLIDARITY WITH LOCAL PRODUCERS
The streets of Tirilye, which were filled with festival visitors, were colored with stands reflecting the abundance of olives, and visitors shopped directly from the producer. The joy of production was experienced with olive blossom scented candle, painting, soap making, ceramic and kite workshops for children and adults. The “Olive Route” hiking reflecting the spirit of Tirilye turned into an exploration among historical structures and century-old trees. Those who completed the route were given olive saplings unique to Tirilye. Chefs demonstrated their skills at the taste stops. In the Olive Oil Recipes with Chefs event, Adnan Karanfil Nar explained the “Spring Rice with Artichoke” and Atakan Özen explained the “Kapanca Harbor Plate” recipes in practice.

THE STORY OF THE OLIVE BROUGHT TO THE STAGE
The historical Taş Mektep Academy and Atatürk Park hosted talks and stage performances that shed light on the history of olives. In panels organized with the participation of local unions and cooperatives, regional olive cultivation and its goals were discussed. The storyteller show titled “An Olive Story” by the Performing Arts Department of Bursa Uludağ University Faculty of Fine Arts brought the past and the present together on stage.

FINAL WITH THE MASTER OF JAZZ
The festival was crowned with the “Jazz in Tirilye” concert by jazz master Kerem Görsev. The concert held on the Tirilye coast attracted great attention, and with the festival held, Tirilye became an important center where music, history and nature came together.

MUDANYA MUNICIPALITY PRESS OFFICE