11th International Milas Olive Harvest Festival 2025 – A Celebration of Olive Heritage in Turkey
Discover the Milas Olive Harvest Festival 2025, a three-day cultural celebration in Muğla’s Milas district. Enjoy live concerts, olive-oil tastings, local food competitions, and sustainability workshops from 7–9 November 2025.
The Heart of Olive Culture in Milas
The Milas Olive Harvest Festival 2025 marks its 11th year as one of Turkey’s most meaningful cultural events celebrating the olive harvest season. Organized by Milas Municipality, Milas Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and local cooperatives, this festival showcases the authentic Aegean spirit, regional gastronomy, and the globally recognized Milas Memecik Olive Oil, Turkey’s first EU-geographically indicated olive oil.
Taking place between 7–9 November 2025, the Milas Olive Harvest Festival transforms the town into a lively open-air cultural fairground featuring olive-oil exhibitions, local artisan markets, concerts, and educational sessions focused on sustainability and women’s entrepreneurship.
Festival Program Overview
The Milas Olive Harvest Festival 2025 spans three full days, filled with parades, cultural performances, culinary contests, and concerts. Visitors will experience the perfect blend of tradition, music, and delicious olive-based flavors.
🎉 Friday, 7 November 2025
15:00 – Parade Walk (Kortej Yürüyüşü): The festival begins with a grand parade led by the Milas Municipality Band, starting from Uzunyuva-Hekatomnos Tomb Monument through Cumhuriyet Street to Atapark Square.
15:45 – Opening Ceremony & Official Speeches at Atapark.
16:15 – Folk Dance Show performed by Milas Yörük Obaları Association.
19:30 – Concert by Ada Müzik at Atapark Stage, setting the festive tone with live local rhythms.
🌿 Saturday, 8 November 2025
11:00 – Olive Harvest & Pressing Event: Live olive pressing at Euromas Ancient City-Levent Baydal Factory (Kızılcakuyu neighborhood) to demonstrate the traditional and modern methods of olive-oil production.
12:00 – Turkish Folk Music Concert by Milas Türk Halk Müziği Derneği at Atapark Stage.
14:00 – Women Entrepreneurs Gathering: Hosted by OPET Board Member Nurten Öztürk, organized by TOBB Women Entrepreneurs Board to support female business owners in the olive industry.
15:00 – Gastronomy Contest by Milas Atatürk Vocational and Technical High School showcasing olive-based Aegean dishes.
16:00 – Workshop: “Angels’ Mothers’ Table” (Melek Annelerin Sofrası) led by Milas Housewives Association, sharing family recipes using local olives and olive oil.
17:00 – Tasting Training by TARİŞ Olive Union, teaching the art of professional olive-oil tasting.
20:00 – Concert by BORA GENCER, one of Turkey’s beloved pop artists, bringing energy to Atapark’s main stage.
🎶 Sunday, 9 November 2025
13:00 – Panel: Protected Geographic Indication Heritage featuring Dr. Abidin Tatlı from the Olive Academy, discussing the unique identity of Milas Memecik Olive Oil.
13:45 – Panel: “The Power of Olive Oil for Health” by Prof. Dr. Ünal Aydın, explaining the medical benefits of pure extra virgin olive oil.
14:30 – Olive Harvest Festival Lottery & Gift Ceremony with local producers.
15:00 – Fashion Show by Nadiye Uslu: “Elegance from the Green Curtain of Nature,” presenting eco-friendly designs inspired by olive leaves.
16:00 – Inter-Neighborhood Local Food Contest and award ceremony.
17:30 – Music by Milas Türkü Dostları and Milas Culture & Art Association.
20:00 – Grand Closing Concert by ÖZGE BİROĞLU, completing the festival with a night of live Aegean melodies.
A Festival Rooted in Sustainability and Local Pride
The Milas Olive Harvest Festival 2025 is not just an event—it’s a declaration of environmental awareness and local identity. Milas is home to over 10 million olive trees, and its Memecik variety produces rich, aromatic oils known for high polyphenol content and health benefits.
The festival’s workshops and tastings by TARİŞ and local cooperatives help visitors understand how to recognize premium olive oil by smell, taste, and color. Sustainability talks highlight the importance of protecting ancient olive groves and supporting organic farming.
Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in Milas
A notable feature of the Milas Olive Harvest Festival 2025 is the Women Entrepreneurs’ Meeting, led by Nurten Öztürk, a key figure in OPET’s social responsibility projects. The session focuses on empowering women who produce olive oil, cosmetics, and handmade olive-wood crafts. This initiative reflects Milas’s growing role as a center for sustainable female entrepreneurship in Turkey’s agricultural sector.
Olive Oil: The Golden Heart of Milas
Visitors attending the Milas Olive Harvest Festival 2025 can sample various olive-oil grades, from cold-pressed extra virgin to boutique blends produced by local farmers. Stalls sell soaps, cosmetics, and artisan food products derived from olives and olive leaves.
Milas’s unique EU Geographical Indication status for its Memecik Olive Oil makes it a destination for gourmet travelers. The olive harvest in early November coincides perfectly with the festival dates, offering guests a chance to witness the oil extraction process live.
Music, Dance, and Local Cuisine
Music and dance form the soul of the Milas Olive Harvest Festival 2025. With concerts by Bora Gencer and Özge Biroğlu, the evenings are filled with Aegean rhythm and community joy. Traditional folk performances, food competitions, and art workshops create a family-friendly environment for locals and tourists alike.
Visitors can enjoy olive-oil tasting menus, regional desserts, and handmade bread dipped in fresh harvest oil. Culinary students from local schools compete to create the most delicious olive-themed dishes, turning Milas into a temporary capital of Aegean gastronomy.
How to Attend
The Milas Olive Harvest Festival 2025 takes place in Atapark Square, Milas, easily accessible from Bodrum (45 km), Muğla City Center (65 km), and Milas-Bodrum Airport (20 km). Entry is free of charge, and visitors are encouraged to support local farmers and artisans by purchasing authentic olive products.
Conclusion
The 11th International Milas Olive Harvest Festival 2025 is more than a celebration—it’s an expression of cultural heritage, sustainability, and community unity. Whether you come for the olive-oil tastings, traditional music, or the inspiring panels, you’ll leave Milas with a deeper appreciation for Turkey’s “liquid gold.”
Plan your visit this November and experience the genuine warmth of Aegean hospitality, the taste of freshly pressed olive oil, and the rhythm of a community that lives and breathes its olive heritage.