North Cyprus Festival Calendar: March to October

Throughout the year, North Cyprus hosts a series of local festivals across different regions, each generally celebrating a regional agricultural product or a seasonal theme. This guide walks through the calendar month by month and summarizes what to keep in mind before visiting. Exact dates change every year — the information here is at the month level; if you're planning a trip around a specific festival, confirm the current schedule from an official source before you go.

Festival calendar: month by month

March — Avtepe Medoş Tulip Festival

The year's first festival generally takes place in March, in the area of Tepebaşı/Avtepe, celebrating the wild tulips that bloom locally. Sources differ slightly on exactly which village the festival is most closely associated with; confirm the precise location and date from current announcements before visiting.

April — Yeşilırmak Strawberry Festival

According to the official Guzelyurt-Lefke tourism brochure, the Yeşilırmak Strawberry Festival generally takes place in April, in the Yeşilırmak (Limnitis) area, celebrating the region's strawberry growing. Confirm the exact date from current announcements before you travel.

May — Lefke Walnut Festival

Per the same official brochure, the Lefke Walnut Festival generally takes place in May, in Lefke, celebrating the town's walnut growing.

June — Guzelyurt Orange Festival, İskele Festival, Famagusta Culture, Arts and Tourism Festival

Summer opens in June with three separate festivals:

• Guzelyurt Orange Festival — celebrates the region's identity as a citrus-growing area, particularly oranges.
• İskele Festival — generally held in the June-July period.
• Famagusta Culture, Arts and Tourism Festival — also generally held in June-July, continuing with cultural and arts events.

August — Mehmetçik Grape Festival

Held in August, this festival celebrates the region's viticulture tradition and grape harvest.

October — Kyrenia Olive Festival

Held in early autumn, in October, this festival is centered on the Kyrenia region's olive and olive-oil production.

November — Lefke Date Festival

Per the official Guzelyurt-Lefke tourism brochure, the Lefke Date Festival generally takes place in November, in Lefke, celebrating the town's date-palm growing (the same brochure notes Lefke has roughly 2,000 palm trees).

What these festivals are like

What these festivals have in common is that they are local events celebrating a region's agricultural or cultural identity, rather than large commercial productions. They're generally held outdoors, in the region's town square or a festival ground, and typically include produce displays, local food stalls, and cultural performances. In keeping with this site's neutrality, this guide names no specific vendor, stall, or ticket outlet.

Planning a visit

• Confirm the calendar — Every date on this page is at the month level and changes year to year. If you're planning a trip specifically around a festival, confirm the current date from the TRNC Public Information Office's official festivals page or from the relevant municipality/organizer's announcements before you travel.
• Getting there — Festivals are generally held in the host region's own town or village center; plan your transport (private car, public transport) to that area in advance. This guide does not give route-level or schedule-level transport details.
• Crowds — Summer festivals (June-August) coincide with the tourist season and can draw larger crowds; plan accommodation and transport accordingly.

Related: local food

Most of these festivals also feature local dishes related to whatever they're celebrating. For general information on North Cypriot cuisine — halloumi, sheftalia, molohiya and more — see our local food guide.

Last verified: 2026-07-11 · Official source: TRNC Public Information Office — Festivals (pio.mfa.gov.ct.tr). This page is informational only and is not legal or commercial advice.