Vartavor Festival Rize

Vartavor Şenlikleri

View on map
Arts & CultureRize highlands
DatesDates TBACheck locally before booking
DurationAnnualEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forPerformance, exhibitionsVardavar (also transliterated Vartavor) is a
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: TRY
CategoryArts & CultureFestival type
The story

Vartavor Festival Rize in Rize highlands

The Vartavor Festival in the Rize highlands draws on Vardavar, an Armenian water-drenching festival tied to the Feast of the Transfiguration, reinterpreted as a cultural-heritage event among the Hemshin communities of Rize, whose ancestors were historically Armenian before converting to Islam in the eighteenth century.

The Rize highlands are home to the Hemshin, a community whose Armenian roots are well documented by historians and linguists even though most Hemshinli today identify as Turkish-speaking Sunni Muslims.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Vardavar (also transliterated Vartavor) is a documented Armenian festival on Armenia's intangible cultural heritage list, traditionally involving mutual dousing with water roughly fourteen weeks after Easter

02

The mystery stays covered

The Hemshin people of Rize's Camlihemsin and Hemsin districts are an ethnographically Armenian-descended group who converted to Sunni Islam in the early 1700s while retaining elements of dialect and folk custom

03

The city starts moving

A modern revival event carrying the Vartavor name in Rize's highlands would sit at the intersection of that heritage and the region's existing yayla festival calendar, though independently confirmed details of a fixed, currently running festival under this name were not found

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

Vardavar traces to pre-Christian Armenian water and fertility rites later folded into the Christian Feast of the Transfiguration

Water and renewal

Living ritual

among Hemshin communities

The sacred route

Living ritual

cultural-heritage events increasingly revisit this ancestral link alongside established horon and tulum traditions

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA

Getting around

For Vartavor Festival Rize, plan transport around the exact Rize highlands venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.

What to wear

Clothing that can get wet is advisable if water traditions are part of the program; otherwise, standard layered mountain wear and closed shoes for uneven plateau ground.

Safety

Keep valuables light, follow local instructions, and watch how residents use the space before joining in.

Where to stay

For Vartavor Festival Rize, stay near the part of Rize highlands you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Tickets/cost

Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.

Language/currency

TRY

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map40.96 N, 40.88 EOpen in Google Maps

Rize highlands, Rize, Turkey

Nearest airportRZV — Rize–Artvin
TransportFor Vartavor Festival Rize, plan transport around the exact Rize highlands venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.
Stay areaFor Vartavor Festival Rize, stay near the part of Rize highlands you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Rize highlands via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Rize highlands, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for festival season.Compare faresFestival gearClothing that can get wet is advisable if water traditions are part of the program; otherwise, standard layered mountain wear and closed shoes for uneven plateau ground.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Turkey and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

We may earn a small commission from trusted travel partners at no extra cost to you.

FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Vartavor Festival Rize?

Vartavor Festival Rize is listed for Multiple months. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Vartavor Festival Rize take place?

The festival is listed in Rize highlands, Turkey. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Annual is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Rize highlands, Rize, Turkey

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLrize.goturkiye.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA
Source statusOfficial source linked
Related festivals

Continue the route.

Photo pending

Buenos Aires International Book Fair

Past edition: 23 April–11 May 2026

Buenos Aires, Argentina
Photo pending

Cairo International Book Fair

Past edition: 21 January–3 February 2026

Cairo, Egypt
Photo pending

Pageant of the Masters

Not represented as one continuous festival occurrence

Laguna Beach, United States
Photo pending

Annecy International Animation Film Festival

Past edition: 8–14 June 2025

Annecy, France

Spotted something out of date? Submit a correction →