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Few things bring people together like food. In Turkey and among Turkish immigrants, food is never just about what’s on the plate; it’s rooted in hospitality, conversation and connection. On Saturday, October 4, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Little Rock will come alive with those same traditions at the Arkansas Turkish Food Festival. The event takes place on Market Street in west Little Rock, outside the Arkansas Culture and Dialogue Center, where the street will be closed to traffic and open to neighbors eager to experience Turkish culture firsthand.
What to Know About Turkish Culture
Turkish culture is rich in tradition and deeply rooted in community. Family bonds are strong, with regular gatherings that keep generations connected. Respect for elders is essential, and hospitality is a fundamental part of life. Guests are treated with honor, often greeted with tea or coffee and served food until they are full, after which they can retreat to a guest room set aside to host and honor them.
Tea and coffee houses have long been places where people in Turkey gather to talk and connect, with neighbors meeting face-to-face. A popular saying sums up this idea: “A cup of coffee is remembered for forty years.” Even after many years, sharing a past cup can help foster peace and reconciliation.
Art and folk traditions are also a crucial part of the culture, encompassing vibrant mosaics, music, and dance. Above all, Turkish culture is about building bridges—creating space for conversation, finding common ground and welcoming others as family.
Arkansas Turkish Food Festival
The Arkansas Turkish Food Festival began in 2011 and has grown into one of Central Arkansas’s most popular multicultural events. Organized by the Arkansas Culture and Dialogue Center (ACDC), the festival combines food, music, and art for people of all backgrounds to enjoy.
The festival is more than just a chance to try delicious dishes; it’s an opportunity to meet your neighbors and experience a culture that values peace, respect and inclusivity. With nearly 200 volunteers preparing food and welcoming guests, the festival feels like joining a family gathering where everyone has a seat at the table.
What to Expect
As you walk through the festival grounds, you’ll see women rolling out dough by hand, hear music drifting through the street, and smell the aroma of spices filling the air. Turkish coffee will be served in the traditional way, rich, strong and unfiltered, while volunteers in traditional dress explain the meaning behind each dish or dance. Families, children and guests of all ages are greeted with open arms.
The goal of the event is simple: to introduce the beauty of Turkish culture, foster dialogue between neighbors of different backgrounds and demonstrate that peace and harmony are possible when we come together around the table.
A Taste of Turkey: Foods to Try
Food is the centerpiece of the Arkansas Turkish Food Festival, and its menu provides an authentic look into Turkey’s culinary traditions. Here are some highlights you won’t want to miss:
- Baklava – A popular dessert of flaky layers filled with chopped nuts and soaked in syrup, known for its sweet, sticky perfection.
- Tavuk Sis Kebap (Chicken Shish Kebab) – Skewered chicken marinated in spices and grilled, delivering smoky flavor with every bite; a street food staple.
- Sigara Böreği (Cheese Rolls) – Crispy, cigar-shaped pastries filled with feta cheese and herbs, perfect as a snack or appetizer.
- Kurabiye – Classic flour cookies, simple yet rich, often served with tea or coffee.
- Döner Kebap (Turkish-Style Gyro) – Thinly sliced meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie and served with bread or rice.
- Lahmacun (Turkish Pizza) – A thin, crispy flatbread topped with seasoned minced meat, vegetables and herbs.
- Börek – A savory pie made with layers of phyllo dough filled with cheese or spinach.
- Revani – A moist semolina cake soaked in syrup, lightly sweet and fragrant.
- Gözleme – A hand-rolled flatbread stuffed with spinach, cheese or potatoes, grilled until golden.
- Yaprak Sarması (Stuffed Vine Leaves) – Vine leaves filled with rice, herbs and spices, providing a refreshing burst of flavor.
- Şekerpare – Sweet semolina cookies soaked in syrup, often served with tea for dessert.
Behind the festival is the Arkansas Culture and Dialogue Center, a nonprofit dedicated to connecting communities. Founded in 2006, the center (originally called Raindrop Turkish House) has hosted cooking classes, book clubs, breaking fast during Ramadan dinners, and interfaith dialogues across Arkansas.
Their mission is to promote understanding and respect among people of different faiths and cultures. With new locations now expanding into Northwest Arkansas, ACDC continues to create welcoming spaces where neighbors can gather, learn, and celebrate diversity.
Understanding Turkish Culture
For many Arkansans, the festival may be their first opportunity to meet Turkish neighbors in person. What they will discover is a culture rooted in generosity and warmth. Hospitality is not optional but expected; guests are always honored, and no one leaves without tea, cookies, or a hearty meal (and a refill).
At its core, Turkish culture is centered on building relationships. Neighbors look out for each other, families stay close-knit, and people value gathering in person. Whether through food, music or a simple cup of coffee, the message remains the same: everyone is welcome, and everyone has a chair.
Arkansas Turkish Food Festival
October 4, 2025 | 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
1501 Market Street, Little Rock, AR
Arkansas Culture and Dialogue Center | Festival Event Page
The Arkansas Culture and Dialogue Center provided the images used throughout the story.
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