A Day Full of Fun and Adrenaline for Young People at IEF
The fifth day of the İzmir International Fair (IEF), organized for the 95th time by İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, was once again filled with colorful scenes. As celebrations marking the anniversary of İzmir’s liberation added to the festive atmosphere, activities organized for young people attracted great interest.
The 95th İzmir International Fair (IEF) continued to offer visitors enjoyable moments on its fifth day. Held at Kültürpark under the slogan “The Fair at the Heart of the City,” IEF was further enlivened by celebrations marking the 104th anniversary of İzmir’s liberation. Alongside cultural and artistic events, activities for young people offered moments filled with adrenaline and entertainment. As part of the Wooden Stage Events, Quiz Night – Kızılcık Şerbeti, Zumba, a Latin dance workshop, a Genç İzmir music performance, and acoustic karaoke sessions were held. A robot show, team and robot presentations, and a virtual FRC Robot Tournament were also organized.
Visitors also enjoyed the Smoothie Bike, which gave them the opportunity to prepare their own drinks by pedaling; the Run Challenge, where speed, reflexes, and endurance came to the fore; as well as digital graffiti and Slot Car activities, where participants of all ages competed enthusiastically.
İzmir Residents Enjoy the Festivities
Nisa Akçiçek, who took part in the Zumba activity, said, “It’s going really well. It’s a wonderful day. We’ve had so much fun. There are so many activities that we haven’t had a moment to spare. We are very proud today. Seeing the performances makes us even more emotional.”
Nilay Su Kızılkaya said, “It’s going wonderfully. I came yesterday too, and from now on I’m going to come every day. I met up with my friend here. We had so much fun. İzmir is a beautiful city. Flowers bloom on the mountains of İzmir. How happy is the one who says, ‘I am a Turk.’”
Ferhat Yağen, who came from Manisa, said, “We come to the fair every year. It is a very lively and beautiful place.” His wife, Tuğba Yağen, added, “September 8 was the anniversary of Manisa’s liberation, and we celebrated it. Today, we are celebrating İzmir’s liberation. The atmosphere is wonderful.”
Alya Öykü Kurttaş, who participated in the digital graffiti activity, said, “I wanted to create something colorful. I chose Zeynep from Manifest. The fair is wonderful. I joined the dance and Zumba activities, and we also explored the fairgrounds.”
Ahmet Fatih Çetin, a student at Atatürk High School who took part in the robotics and coding area, said, “We are showcasing our robots here. We are introducing the robots we use in competitions. There are tens of thousands of teams around the world. Türkiye ranks third in terms of the number of teams. We are in a very important position.”
“I’m Having So Much Fun”
The İzmir International Fair also hosted a variety of colorful activities for children. Young visitor Asya Genal, who said she had enjoyed a fun-filled day at the fair, said, “I went to the playground and the entertainment areas. I’m going to draw because I love drawing. I really love it here; it’s a wonderful place. There are so many fun things for children.”
Third-grade student Nil Beyde said, “The fair is going really well. I loved the exciting activities. I’m very happy. I’m having so much fun here.”