The cultures of the world will come together in colourful, noisy, fun-filled collaboration and celebration in Belfast’s Botanic Gardens on Sunday 30th August when the city hosts its ninth Belfast Mela in association with Turkish Airlines.
More than 30,000 people are expected to attend the annual extravaganza, stepping into a freshly created world of diversity where the sights, sounds, smells and cuisine from around the globe come to life for one amazing day.
Tibetan tradition, Bulgarian dance, Andalucian flamenco, African drumming, Afro-Caribbean funk and reggae, Punjabi folk, Chinese lion dancing, Irish trad … a garden of flowers, magically come to life; an international souk and Little Bollywood for the tiny tots … there’s a whole world of entertainment for the whole family.
Turkish Airlines, voted Best European Airline for the past five consecutive years (2011-2015) by Skytrax, flies to more than 270 destinations in 110 countries worldwide – more than any other airline – and has teamed up for the second year as principal sponsor of the Belfast Mela Festival.
Murat Balandi, General Manager for Ireland, Turkish Airlines, said: “We are tremendously excited by this latest creative partnership with Belfast Mela and we are looking forward to supporting a fantastic day when Belfast takes the world to its heart. It’s a lively and appropriate way for us to thank and engage with our customers north and south and to celebrate global culture together. In Turkish Airlines we talk of the positive role of travel in ‘cultivating our curiosity and finding delight in our differences’ – Belfast Mela echoes those sentiments and we urge people to take up our invitation: ‘It’s time to widen your world’.”
