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The convention center at Canterbury Park in Shakopee was brimming with traditional Turkish music, dancing and cuisine at the first ever Turkish Festival of Minnesota.

The event also featured traditional Turkish coffee workshops, marble art, shadow puppetry and a display of Henna Night, or Kına Gecesi, an emotional prewedding tradition.  

The event was hosted by the Turkish American Association of Minnesota. They received a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board and have been planning the festival for a year. 

Ilgin Sezer is president of the Turkish American Association of Minnesota. She has lived in Minnesota for 23 years and lives in Eden Prairie.  

“Turkey has a big culture, history. It is so different. I mean, the art and then the traditions, I’m so happy that we have a chance to introduce people with our art, with the culture,” Sezer said. “It is important to us to engage people with a little bit Turkish history, Turkish art, Turkish culture.”

One of the most popular events was a workshop about Turkish coffee.

Ahmet Akal, who was born in Turkey’s capital Ankara and has lived in Eagan for nearly 28 years, is a volunteer with the association was making and teaching about the coffee.  

He described Turkish coffee as much stronger and takes a bit longer than drip coffee. Before electricity, Turkish coffee was made by warming it in sand, something they also had displayed at the workshop.

The grinding process for Turkish coffee makes it into the finest grounds. It is one level finer than espresso. And it is not filtered. Both having the grounds in the cup and the fine grinding results in a strong aroma and taste.

There is also the tradition of reading the grounds of the coffee that form a sort of “sledge at the bottom,” Akal describes. Once you have finished your coffee, you flip it over, and once it is cooled, you can take a look at the shape that is formed. For some, it is about creativity, and for others, they take it very seriously, he says.

Akal says the drink is as much about culture as caffeine.

“It’s really, really starts up conversations and stories. So it’s for getting people together and connecting them. So that’s the part that I like most, because coffee you can get anywhere, but the connection is sometimes something that humans are missing," Akal said.

Another tradition on display for attendees to learn about was the Turkish Henna Night. This tradition happens prewedding and celebrates a bride’s transition into married life.

Aydan Yetkin was sharing aspects of the tradition. Before the event, she reached out to members of the Turkish community in Minnesota asking to borrow pieces from their Henna Nights. On display included a silver shaving tray, bundles made for the bride and groom and other handmade linens and artwork for the newlyweds to bring to their new home.

Yetkin has lived in Eagan for about six years.

“We find each other. We are a really good community here. I met really good people. It doesn’t matter Turkish or American, I really like to be here in Minnesota,” she said. 

Live performances of dancing and music were an ongoing event throughout the festival. The dances spanned traditions of the whole country. They were members of the folkloric group as part of the Turkish American Association of Minnesota. Some of them have been dancing for more than 25 years.

The festival rounded off with a ticketed performance by Rafet El Roman, a beloved pop star in Turkey.

The Turkish American Association of Minnesota hopes to make the festival an annual tradition.

“In my entire life I believe the first step is the most important step. This is the first important step of a series, hopefully, but it depends on other conditions like funding,” Ismail Dilek, the publicity chair for the association, said.

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The inaugural Turkish Festival of Minnesota was held at Canterbury Park on Sunday and was brimming with traditional Turkish music, dancing, art and cuisine. 

Inaugural Turkish Festival of Minnesota features coffee, community

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