'Tourism capital of Soran'
Balakayati Festival draws crowds to celebrate nature, culture, and community
BALAKAYATI – The ninth annual Balakayati Festival opened Thursday in the scenic Balakayati area of Erbil’s Soran Autonomous Administration, attracting visitors and participants from across the Kurdistan Region and beyond to celebrate local culture, music, traditional attire, and natural beauty.
The event, organized under the supervision of Choman district commissioner Ahmad Barzan, featured a variety of artistic and folkloric performances.
“Our goal with this festival is to highlight the cultural identity of the Balakayati area and promote the region’s tourism sector,” Barzan told 964media.
He emphasized the festival’s role in strengthening community ties. “Because of digital tools, many social relationships have faded. Our aim is to revive these ties—both among the people of Balakayati and between Balakayati and other regions,” Barzan said.
Visitors traveled from across the Kurdistan Region and beyond to join the festival. “I am pleased to say that Balakayati is becoming the tourism capital of the Soran Autonomous Administration, with visitors coming in all four seasons—even winter,” he added.
The Balakayati area is known for its fertile land, abundant water resources, and productive agricultural terrain, making it a key supplier of summer crops. Large tracts of farmland in the region help meet market demand for locally grown produce.
