The parade, one of the most eagerly anticipated events of the festival — which this year hosted 26 cities from 21 countries — began in front of the former Metropolitan Municipality building and continued through Kaleiçi’s narrow historic streets, drawing great attention from locals and visitors alike. The lively procession concluded at Karaalioğlu Park’s Orta Mirador, where a Gripin concert was held as part of the Kaleiçi Old Town Festival.
The concert area overflowed hours before the event, filled with enthusiastic young people. The evening opened with a performance by the music group Arka Dörtlü, followed by the much-anticipated appearance of Gripin, whose memorable songs have left a mark on Turkish pop-rock music. The crowd, made up largely of young fans, sang along passionately to Gripin’s hits.
In his address during the evening, Muratpaşa Mayor Ümit Uysal began by thanking all participants who joined them in celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Kaleiçi Old Town Festival. Emphasizing that the festival has revitalized Kaleiçi’s cultural life, local trade, and especially tourism, he said:
“Kaleiçi is now a place that’s alive 12 months a year — open and walkable day and night, every day of the week.
Through the Kaleiçi Old Town Festival, we have made great progress both culturally and diplomatically.
So far, we have hosted nearly 200 cities through this festival. This year, 26 partner cities joined us. Together with our participating cities, we represent one another.
Our country and the whole world need to become the water of the same sea — to live together in unity, solidarity, and peace as brothers and sisters.
I hope our festival contributes to this shared culture of humanity.”
Following Mayor Uysal’s remarks, the participating cities took the stage, greeting the people of Antalya with their traditional costumes, carrying both their national flags and the Turkish flag, in a colorful display of friendship and cultural unity.
