The highly anticipated İzmir International Fair (İEF), Turkey's oldest fair, will open its doors to the world on Aug. 28 for the 84th time. The theme of the fair, which was "logistics" last year, is "education" this year. While the fair is expected to welcome participants from 50 different countries around the world, a youth festival also will take place as a part of the fair. Regarded as one of the most prestigious commercial fairs in the world, İEF stressed its rooted fair tradition with the symbol of a tree. Moreover, for the first time in its history, the fair will host a Book Street. The area extending from Lozan Gate to the Cumhuriyet Gate is reserved for the market and the Book Street. The stands will be installed on one side of the street, aiming to provide more space for visitors while they enjoy the market as well as the books.The fair is also a good opportunity for the Turkish Red Crescent to collect blood donations. The blood collection truck of the Turkish Red Crescent will be present at the fair area throughout the organization.Art Street will also be opened for the first time as a part of the fair. Located near the long pool in the festival area, Art Street will also feature various workshops. Caricature making, painting, mask making, tile making, glass blowing, fabric dyeing, bag making and marbling workshops will be offered free of charge from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. throughout the fair. Apart from electronic card entrances, visitors will be able to enter the fair area with tokens. Visitors will be able to buy tokens from machines next to the gates. For those who enter the fair arena with electronic cards, adult tickets will cost TL 2.50 ($0.86) while student tickets cost TL 1.50. On the other hand, a token costs TL 2.50. Organized under the auspices of the Economy Ministry, the İEF will be open from 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., while the market inside the fair area will open its doors at 12:00 p.m. Commenting on the fair, İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Aziz Kocaoğlu said: "The İEF is not just an economic organization but a social and cultural event. Although there are many ways for companies to introduce themselves and their products to the world thanks to the digital age, the İEF continues to make improvements. Today, fairs mostly focus on niche markets. We had been organizing nearly 30 different fairs. However, we decided to organize the İzmir Fair in order to improve fairs organized in İzmir."Many visual shows will take place during festivals.Kocaoğlu said they will organize design contests starting from 2016 in order for the İEF to become a global brand. "The developments in information technology created a global world. We want to add new content to the İzmir International Fair to make it keep up with the ever-changing era," Kocaoğlu said, adding that an international youth design contest will be held as a part of the fair in the upcoming years. "We will turn our fair into a festival for youth," said the mayor. He added that they will change many things in the organization of the fair starting in 2016, and claimed the fair will grow and continue to renew itself in the following years. He underscored that İEF will be a dynamic fair, and continued: "We invite all the people of İzmir to the İzmir International Fair, which has a very important place in the independence of our country, to share the joy. I hope the fair will be a success." According to a written statement by the İZFAŞ, the fair organizer, Art Street will be open from Aug. 28 to Sept. 6 at Kültürpark. İEF will also feature a movie festival "Sinema Burada" (Cinema is Here), plays, exhibitions, seminars, carnivals, a children's village, discussions and "Özgür Mikrofon" (Open Microphone).As part of the fair, many singers, authors, journalists, actors, directors and music groups will be invited to participate or perform. On Aug. 29, MFÖ will perform followed by Funda Arar on Aug. 30, Şebnem Ferah on Sept. 2 and Mabel Matiz on Sept. 6. On Sept. 1, Kardaş Türküler will perform a special concert followed by Gökhan Türkmen on Sept. 4 and Hadise on Sept. 5.A number of products will also be on display at the fair venue including samples from food producers, and from industries such as energy, finance, health, ecological products, education, finance, machine, information and telecommunication, computer, electronics, electricity, textile, ready-made clothing, local administration, tourism, agricultural machines, construction materials, air-conditioning, motorcycle and bicycles, sub-industry and the automobile industry.