What festivals are held on Anzer Plateau?

Festivals near the Anzer Plateau in the Rize region of Turkey mainly take place during the summer months, particularly July and August. Key festivals include:

  • The Anzer Tourism Festival: It is the main event of this kind, focused on celebrating the renowned Anzer honey with dance shows, poetry competitions, and contests for the best honey and local beauties. It is held typically in early August.

  • Rize Horon Festival: Occurring in July or August, this festival highlights regional folk dances called horon, along with traditional cuisine, handicrafts, concerts, and competitions.

  • Ayder Highlands Festival: Located nearby in Çamlıhemşin, this early August festival also revolves around honey and traditional foods, with cultural dances and performances. It is a major tourist attraction for the highlands.

  • Düzköy Festival: Known for horon dances performed at high altitude (2640 meters), this festival happens in early August and draws large crowds.

  • Other regional festivals include Mount Pancar Festival (sports and folk dances), Green Yayla Culture, Arts and Environment Festival (colorful cultural events), and Sultan Murat Festival (horon dances and local music).

Winter festivals like the Snowman Festival are also held at places like Ayder Plateau, offering seasonal celebrations in January.

These festivals combine nature appreciation, local culture, food, and music, attracting both locals and tourists to experience the unique Black Sea highlands environment and traditions.

IMG_8272
IMG_8271
IMG_8270
IMG_7703
harvesting anzer honey
Anzer festival

Is there a festival where Anzer honey is tested?

Yes, Anzer Tourism Festival, that is held on the Anzer Plateau. This festival celebrates the unique Anzer honey, known for its exceptional quality and medicinal properties, with activities such as honey tasting events and competitions for the best honey products.

There are lots of opportunities for visitors to sample and purchase various Anzer honey varieties directly from local producers or cooperatives.

Anzer Tourism Festival - perfect to taste Anzer honey

 The festival is an annual event organized by the Anzer Balı cooperative with the support of the Ministry of Tourism and the local council (muhtarlık). It has been held multiple times, serving to celebrate and promote the unique cultural and natural heritage of the area. Its name “Turizm Bölgesi” (Tourism Region) was granted to the Anzer Plateau in 1987 by the Ministry of Tourism.

The Anzer Tourism Festival highlights the significance of Anzer honey, but is not restricted to it. Here are the main activities at the Anzer Tourism Festival:

  • Honey tasting and promotion of the famous Anzer honey (we need to start with honey, righ?)

  • Cultural performances showcasing traditional Turkish folk dances and music.

  • Poetry competitions emphasizing local literary culture.

  • Nature walks and tours of the Anzer plateau, highlighting its stunning meadows and natural beauty.

  • Various local artisan stalls and exhibits that feature regional crafts and products.

  • Opportunities for visitors to engage with and learn about the natural and cultural heritage of the Anzer plateau area.

Dancing at the Anzer Plateau Festival

Villagers playing Zeybek. Photo credit: Turpcan under CC BY-SA 4.0

Traditional dances of the Rize / Anzer region

The Horon dance is the folk dance most closely associated with Türkiye’s Black Sea coast, including Rize.

  • Dancers form a circle or semicircle, holding each other by the arms or hands, and perform quick steps, spins, and shoulder shakes—the whole body trembling slightly in rhythm with the music.

  • The music is played on local instruments such as the kemençe (a type of fiddle held vertically), the tulum (bagpipe), or the kaval (flute).

  • In Rize, dancers wear traditional costumes: men put on shirts, vests, woolen trousers tied at the knees, and black boots, often with silver embroidery on the jackets. Women wear brightly colored dresses and decorated scarves.

Dances specific to other Turkish regions appear in articles about Turkish folk dances: Halay, Bar, Zeybek, etc. But Horon is most relevant to the northeastern/Black Sea coastal area.

How do I get to the Anzer Plateau and the festival?

It’s not quite easy to get to the Anzer Plateau, especially for an outsider. Local transport options for reaching there during festival dates, mainly involve:

  • Reaching Rize city first, typically via Trabzon Airport about 70 km away, with airport shuttles, taxis, or rental cars available.

  • From Rize, taking public buses or minibusses (dolmuş) to İkizdere district.

  • From İkizdere, the Anzer Plateau is about an hour away by private vehicle or taxi; public transport directly to the plateau is limited.

  • During festivals, local shuttle services or organized transport may run from key towns like İkizdere to the plateau to accommodate visitors.

  • Renting a car is often recommended for flexibility, especially during peak festival seasons when transport options might be crowded or less frequent.

  • Local walking or trekking is common on the plateau itself for exploring natural and cultural sites.

Overall, visitors rely mostly on a combination of air travel, public buses to regional centers, and private or hired vehicles for last-mile transport to the plateau during festival times.

Tips and tricks if you travel to the Anzer Plateau

If you intend to take a trip to the Anzer plateau during the festival (but not only) please consider the following advices:

  • Be prepared for cooler mountain weather, even in summer. Carry appropriate clothing for cool temperatures, and comfortable shoes for hiking and walking on the natural plateau terrain.

  • It is best to reach the plateau by private vehicle from İkizdere, which takes around an hour, as public transport options may be limited.

  • Booking accommodation early is advisable because the plateau can get crowded during the festival and tourist season, and there are limited lodging options.

  • Take advantage of nature walks, photography opportunities, and explore the local culture and honey production areas.

  • Bring cash (Turkish Lira is their currency, but they also accept US$ and Euro) for local purchases such as Anzer honey, crafts, and food, as card facilities might not be universally available.

  • Respect the natural environment and traditional lifestyle of locals to preserve the unique atmosphere of the place.

  • The optimal time to visit the plateau and experience blooming flowers is early summer, although the festival is usually held in early August.

Are there any accommodations available on Anzer Plateau?

Yes, accommodations are available near the Anzer Plateau during peak season, but options are somewhat limited and should be booked early. There are bungalows, guest houses, and small hotels mostly in nearby towns such as İkizdere and Ayder Plateau, which is about a 60-minute drive away. Some accommodations offer cozy, nature-immersed stays with amenities like fireplaces, jacuzzis, and local breakfast options.

Booking platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com list various options with prices and guest reviews. Keep in mind that due to the plateau’s remote location, you will stay slightly farther, but within a reasonable driving distance.

In 2025, the Unity and Solidarity Festival (Birlik ve Beraberlik Şöleni) was held between 2 and 3 august. Approximately 13,000 people attended. 

The tour companies provided transportation from Rize and surrounding districts. An average round-trip price was TL500.
The trip from the center of Rize to the Anzer Festival took one and a half hours. 

Organizers took care of everything: there was a 1500-spot parking area, raincoats were available to be distributed in case of rain, a first aid medical team was ready to help anyone in need. There was food and drinks.

The event celebrated the land, tradition, and communal pride of Anzer—and is closely tied to the season when Anzer honey’s harvest is approaching.

Anzer festival 2025

The festival included strong elements of social connection and symbolic hometown pride. In his opening speech, İbrahim Turgut (club president and sponsor) emphasized that Anzer is his homeland and repeated the motto: “bir olmak, beraber olmak, aile olmak” (to be one, to be together, to be family).

References: