Anatolian Festival Set for OC Fairgrounds Oct. 6 to 9

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Anatolian Cultures and Food Festival (www.anatolianfestival.org) is gearing up for another celebration from Turkey's heartland.

The Pacifica Institute (www.pacificainstitute.org) will host the Third Anatolian Cultures and Food Festival at the Orange County Fairgrounds from October 6 to 9, 2011.  Returning this year are popular cultural exhibits, foods, crafts, and performances highlighting the diverse history of the region, along with an array of new features.

"We are excited to be back," said Ibrahim Barlas, President of the Pacifica Institute. "As before, there is something for the whole family to enjoy and, of course, we have many wonderful new additions, too."

The festival will again showcase the best of Anatolia, with exhibits of the cities of Istanbul, Konya, Mardin and Van. This year, Antalya will be joined by the cities of Isparta and Burdur in the Western Mediterranean section.  Others participating will be Corum, known for the roasted chickpea called Leblebi, and Hatay, home of the cheese desert, Kunefe.

Istanbul will once again house the breathtaking Topkapi Palace exhibit, where actors in costumes will offer a glimpse into life in the Sultan's court. Craftsmen at each exhibit will demonstrate traditional arts such as calligraphy, carving, weaving and pottery.

As ever, food will be one of the festival's main attractions. Traditional breads and pastries, spicy kebabs and mouthwatering deserts and many delicacies from this region's cuisine will be prepared by cooks at the festival. These will be on offer at the Grand Bazaar, with its 100 stalls along with other authentic goods.

This year, organizers have added a second traditional coffee house offering Turkish coffee and teas. Other ethnic refreshments will also be available at a replica of the Ahmet III Fountain in Istanbul's historic Uskudar district.

On the main stage, there will be an exciting line-up of live performances. Among them will be the popular Ottoman Marching Band and the Ankara Folk Ensemble, attending with 35 performers this year.

The Pacifica Institute is a non-profit organization whose mission is to encourage multi-cultural dialogue. The event is sponsored by the Los Angeles-based Pacifica Institute along with the California Turkish American Chamber of Commerce (CATA) and the West America Turkic Council (WATC).

For schedule and ticket information email [email protected] or call (310) 208 7290.

SOURCE Pacifica Institute