The Festival Promising Fun Without Leaving Any Trace: Festtogether

We talked to Itır Erhart, the co-founder of Adım Adım, the movement partner of the organization about Festtogerher Festival which will share some of the ticket revenue among the NGOs that support it. Erhart invites everyone to Festtogether to run together, attend workshops - panels, act with the thought of the goodness of the planet while having fun and have the opportunity to experience many new things.

Festtogether, which aims to raise ecological awareness by using the unifying power of music, blazes the trails. Held under the theme of zero waste for the first time in Turkey, the festival considers the planet while having fun as well as drawing attention to sustainability and can also be attended by kids with their parents. Also, the participants who bring in e-waste can support both recycling and education of children with autism.

Can you give us some information about Festtogether festival?

Actually the starting point of the project was when Mert Fırat dreamt about a festival while touring the Troy Culture Route 2 years ago, which would be for 2-3 days, includes music, sports, social responsibility and which draws attention to 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Later, many NGOs, institutions and stakeholders became partners with this dream. We all together conceptualized Festtogether. In a sense, we gathered around “partnerships for sustainability”, the 17th objective. We decided to hold the first leg of the festival in Istanbul. We plan to organize it in different cities next year.

What was the purpose of the Festtogether music festival? How do you contribute to the festival as Adım Adım?

Festivals are one of the tools of groups, organizations, non-governmental organizations to reach the masses and bring up social issues, raise awareness and question the ways of thinking and behavior of the masses. They have the power to create change. That’s a reason. The other is that the festivals produce a lot of waste and this waste is not recycled. Festivals produce 20 thousand tons of waste every year. The figure per person is 2.8 kg. We want to show that it is possible not to leave a trace while we are having fun.

Adım Adım is the festival’s movement partner. We established Adım Adım with the aim that individuals should act to develop the society and to solve social problems. Individuals are physically acting, running, collecting donations and creating awareness instead of being unresponsive to problems. This actually coincides with the mission of Festtogether.

Who are your stakeholders and supporters? Do you have stakeholders or supporters from the public sector?

We have many stakeholders. TİDER, UNDP, TOG, Vegan Association of Turkey, Adım Adım, TEGV, WWF, TEMA, Puduhepa and Sisters, İhtiyaç Haritası, TOYİ, KAFA Children and Science Magazine are some of them. We also work with municipalities especially on waste management.

What does the festival program cover?

On September 28, the second leg of the festival, we will start the day with plogging (collecting garbage while running) in Maçka Park. From there, we will move to KüçükÇiftlik Park, where all other activities will be held. We will do yoga together. We will have a vegan breakfast. There will be panels and workshops on sustainability between 12.00-16.00. And concerts after 16.00.

Did you organize the festival as a project? Do you have a goal to make the festival permanent or traditional?

We never thought of this Festival as a project that we will make once and put aside. Awareness-raising workshops and meetings will begin immediately after the festival. We have already started to think about what we can do in other cities. The festival is likely to be held in 3-4 different venues next year. One of them will be Çanakkale, which inspired the Festival. Steps for organizing abroad have started to be taken.

UNDP Turkey also gives you support in accordance with sustainable development objectives. How would you describe the concept of sustainability to us in its simplest and plainest form?

I think the definition of the United Nations Development Program is very plain and simple: People living in better conditions in dignity and the protection of our planet. Not leaving anyone behind and focusing on the most disadvantaged individuals. We are trying to draw attention to this in Festtogether.

What are the features that distinguish this festival from other music festivals we are familiar with? Can you sort?

• All food will be vegan.
• Wastes will be separated and recycled.
• There will be no disposable plastic bottles and straws.
• Participants were called to “come with their bottles”. For those who do not bring a bottle, deposited bottles will be given at the door.
• Those who like will bring books and musical instruments. The musical instruments will be repaired by the Onaranlar Club and be delivered along with the books to the needers through İhtiyaç Haritası.
• Participants will not only have fun, they will attend workshops and panels on sustainability with their children.

How can those who cannot attend the festival support the Festival?

They can support us via social media and share our messages. They can participate in the events we will organize after the festival.

Are tickets expensive? For example, are the prices reasonable for a student? Can the Suspended Ticket option be considered?

There are discount tickets for students. There was no Suspended Ticket option this year. Our sponsors gave a lot of tickets via promotions like a “buy one get free” and some sponsors purchased tickets for students. Of course, the Suspended Ticket application can also be considered next year.

Who is your target audience? Do you want to see more young people at the festival?

The festival is especially for young people and daytime activities, and also for children.

How can this festival serve sustainable development goals?

First of all, it will create awareness about sustainable development goals. Questions like “Why vegan?”, “Why no plastic?” being asked is very valuable. It’s a beginning…

Do you have any new initiatives and projects outside of this festival that aims to increase awareness and action force regarding sustainable development goals and climate crisis?

65,000 Adım Adım runners create awareness and resources for many non-governmental organizations through sports. The mission of all these non-governmental organizations coincides with at least one development goal. In fact, each Adım Adım runner is on the move for these goals. We dream of many projects with the wonderful NGOs and people I met thanks to the festival. We will implement and announce them in order.

Do you think the implementation of such new and unique festivals and sustainability are difficult to do in Turkey?

Absolutely. I believe with all my heart that other stakeholders will join us after September 28 and we can do much more comprehensive festivals and projects together.

Lastly what would you like to say?

Come Saturday, let’s run together, do yoga, have vegan breakfast, attend workshops, panels, and then have fun with ATHENA, UNKLE, Yüzyüzeyken Konuşuruz, Kimbra, Son Feci Bisiklet. While doing all this, keep the goodness of the planet and the right of all people to live in dignity in our minds. We are waiting.