Four master artisans journeying from Türkiye specifically for the San Francisco Turkish Festival anchor this year’s cultural program.
Visitors to the San Francisco Turkish Festival will encounter Türkiye’s famous Kangal Dogs, showcasing a key element of Anatolia’s living cultural heritage.
3rd San Francisco Turkish Festival: 48 vendors, master artisans from Türkiye, Kangal Dogs, food, music & Turkic culture at Embarcadero Plaza, Sept. 12–13.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA, UNITED STATES, September 7, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — San Francisco Turkish Festival Brings the Living Heritage of Türkiye and the Turkic World to Embarcadero Plaza
Embarcadero Plaza will be filled with four master artisans from Türkiye, Kangal Dogs, 48 vendors, traditional arts, food, music, and performances from September 12–13
The Turkish American Association of California (CALTURKS) is presenting the 3rd Annual San Francisco Turkish Festival on September 12–13 at Embarcadero Plaza, bringing together Türkiye’s centuries-old arts, distinctive cuisine, music, dance, and cultural traditions in the heart of San Francisco.
This free, two-day event runs from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM each day, featuring 48 vendors, a full weekend of live performances, artists and cultural groups from Türkiye and the wider Turkic world, along with special presentations rarely seen together in the Bay Area.
After a 2025 festival that drew over 7,000 attendees, this year’s edition puts a strong focus on living cultural heritage — traditions that remain actively practiced, taught, and passed down from generation to generation.
Four Master Artisans Travel From Türkiye
Four master artisans traveling from Türkiye specifically for the San Francisco Turkish Festival are at the heart of this year’s cultural program.
Guests will have the chance to meet these artists, observe live demonstrations, and engage with four unique traditions firsthand:
Almula İdil Kılıç — Kütahya Tile Art
Kılıç will showcase the intricate patterns, painting techniques, and craftsmanship of Kütahya’s centuries-old ceramic tradition.
Ertuğrul Üzümcü — Traditional Turkish Coppersmithing
Üzümcü will demonstrate traditional copper craftsmanship, an art form shaped and preserved by generations of Anatolian artisans.
Orhan Çakıroğlu — Gaziantep Yemeni Craftsmanship
Çakıroğlu, a fifth-generation artisan, carries on the Gaziantep tradition of producing handmade leather Yemeni footwear using techniques passed down through his family.
Süheyla Sarı Yoldaş — Hereke Silk Weaving
Yoldaş will present the meticulous techniques behind traditional Hereke silk weaving, which is internationally renowned for its extraordinary detail and craftsmanship.
Rather than presenting these traditions merely as finished objects, the festival lets visitors witness the hands and techniques behind the art and meet the people who keep these traditions alive.
The Kangal: A Living Symbol of Anatolia
The festival’s emphasis on living heritage extends beyond art and craftsmanship.
Visitors will get the chance to meet Kangal Dogs, Türkiye’s internationally recognized livestock guardian breed and a significant part of Anatolia’s pastoral heritage.
For centuries, Kangals have worked alongside shepherds, guarding livestock across the Anatolian landscape. Noted for their size, intelligence, loyalty, courage, and protective instincts, they have become one of Türkiye’s best-known native breeds.
Thakeb Kangals will bring award-winning Kangals to Embarcadero Plaza, where visitors can meet the dogs and their handlers and learn about the breed’s history, characteristics, and traditional role.
A Celebration of the Wider Turkic World
The San Francisco Turkish Festival also serves as a platform for the cultural traditions that connect Türkiye with communities across the Turkic world.
Throughout the weekend, audiences will see performers and cultural groups representing Turkish, Azerbaijani, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, and Uyghur traditions, alongside Turkish folk dance, live music, a Whirling Dervish performance, darbuka, and contemporary acts.
The festival brings these communities together not as isolated exhibits, but as part of a shared weekend of cultural exchange in one of the world’s most diverse cities.
48 Vendors Bring a Taste of Türkiye to San Francisco
Food plays a major role in the celebration as well.
With 48 vendors taking part, Embarcadero Plaza will offer visitors Turkish foods and desserts, coffee, handmade goods, jewelry, textiles, art, crafts, specialty products, and cultural displays.
Guests can come for lunch and stay for the day — discovering an artist, watching a performance, meeting a Kangal, shopping from local businesses, and experiencing traditions they might otherwise have to travel thousands of miles to find.
“We want people to experience our culture, not simply read about it,” said Nalan Gungor Ozisik, President of the Turkish American Association of California. “Come taste the food, listen to the music, watch our dances, meet the artists and discover traditions that have been carried forward for generations. This festival belongs to everyone. Whatever your background, we invite you to come and celebrate with us.”
EVENT DETAILS
3rd Annual San Francisco Turkish Festival
September 12–13, 2026
11:00 AM–6:00 PM
Embarcadero Plaza, San Francisco
Admission: FREE
All are welcome
Festival information: TURKFESTSF.ORG
About the Turkish American Association of California
Founded in 1975, the Turkish American Association of California (CALTURKS) is a volunteer-run nonprofit organization dedicated to sharing Turkish culture, arts, and heritage and strengthening friendship, understanding, and cultural exchange among communities.
For more than five decades, the organization has brought people together through cultural celebrations, educational programs, performances and community events throughout California.
MEDIA CONTACT
Nalan Gungor Ozisik
President
Turkish American Association of California (CALTURKS)
Website: TURKFESTSF.ORG
Email: festival@turkfestsf.org
Phone: 650-380-6096
Nalan Ozisik
TURKISH AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA
+1 650-380-6096
email us here
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3rd San Francisco Turkish Festival, September 12-13, Embarcadero Plaza, San Francisco
