The 10th edition of the Istanbul Tulip Festival, which launched in 2005 for the first time with the motto "Istanbul meets its tulips," will be held by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. During the Festival, Emirgan Park and Göztepe 60'ıncı Yıl Park will host various events. Tulips will blossom in the gardens, squares and parks of Istanbul as part of the festival, which will start on April 11 and end on May 3. Moreover, a "Tulip Carpet" – a first in the world – in which 545,000 tulips will be used will roll into life in Sultanahmet Square. Turkish bands as well as "Ebru" (marbling) artists will offer a fun time to Istanbulites with live performances at both of the main event venues throughout the festival.Additionally, photography and painting exhibitions will be held as a part of the annual event. Entertaining and colorful events, sporting events await Istanbulites as well. Held for the first time in 2013, the Tulip Cup International Tennis Federation (ITF) Women's Tennis Tournament will bring tulips and sports together. Furthermore, the Istanbul Tulip Festival Intercollegiate Beach Football Tournament will take place as it does every year. For the last nine years, the festival has witnessed various exhibitions, symposiums, live performances, shows and award ceremonies. Thanks to the "Tulip Festival Chronological Photography Exhibition," the visitors will get a chance to observe the events that took place in the previous years. Moreover, live tulips will be sold at sale points in Emirgan Park and Göztepe 60'ıncı Yıl Park during the festival.The 10th Istanbul Tulip Festival will also host many artists and works of art. With live concerts by Turkish bands, Istanbulites will inhale the invigorating air of spring. Several artists will perform the art of marbling, which holds a special place among other traditional arts, at two separate venues, to once again revive the art at the annual organization.Within the scope of the event, İBB Art and Vocational Training Courses (İSMEK) will open an exhibition titled "Tulip in Turkish Arts" both in Emirgan and 60'ıncı Yıl Parks as well as stalls that will sell İSMEK's tulip-themed products.The İBB Women Coordination Center, which has been generating solutions for families in need and helping women through socio-cultural events, will open a stand at the festival. Initiated in 2007 at the Woman Coordination Center, training and employment workshops will sell the products made by the trainees at the stand. The workshops have been helping women contribute to their family income thanks to many courses such as artificial flower arranging and ornamenting with beads.Beautiful tulip sculptures will come to life through artists' interpretations with an exhibition that will be held as part of the International Tulip Festival, which has become a part of Istanbul with its eye-catching colors and beauty. The sculptures will be displayed in Emirgan Park and Göztepe 60'ıncı Yıl Park until the end of the festival.The tulip, which is the symbol of Istanbul, will be weaved on carpets during the festival. For the first time in the world, a carpet will be woven with tulips, and the flower will not only be the symbol of Istanbul but Turkey as a whole. The Tulip Carpet, which will cover an area of 540 square meters and feature 545,000 tulips, will be located at Sultanahmet Square.An exhibition titled "Earth, Fire and Tulip," on display at Cemal Reşit Rey from April 15-30, will present a different approach to tulips, which have witnessed world history, as well as tile art. Nearly 50 works of Emel Basut Gemici, who performs modern applications on tile and brings new approaches to the art, will be showcased for the first time.The İsmail Acar Tulip Festival Annual Painting Exhibition will also be opened to visitors from April 17 to April 30 at the Istanbul Tulip Association's exhibition hall. Acar's tulip-themed display focuses on the relationship between Istanbul and tulips. He presents Istanbul's unique architectural forms along with tulip's aesthetic form through different colors, patterns and harmony.The most beautiful tulips of Istanbul will be chosen as a part of the International Tulip Festival, as is done each year. The photographs featuring tulips that blossom in every corner of the city will also compete with each other. Additionally, millions of tulips have been planted in the parks of Istanbul as a part of the festival. For instance, Emirgan Park is currently home to 2,800,000 tulips of 192 different varieties, Göztepe 60'ıncı Yıl Park contains 1,187,000 tulips of 161 types, Gülhane Park contains 1,379,000 tulips of 86 different types and Yıldız Park has 730,000 tulips of 32 types planted.