Festivities began yesterday with the ceremonial laying of wreaths on Atatürk memorials throughout the nation.
Ceremonies were held throughout the nation with traditional dances and performances with a carnival-like atmosphere prevailing in most of the nation's provinces. Citizens of all ages flocked to the festivities which were generally held in large-scale venues such as stadiums. A show of traditional folk dances in Gaziantep's Kamil Ocak Stadium especially transcended into a carnival-like environment.
Turkey's Republic Day was also celebrated in the United States with a flag-raising ceremony at the Municipality in Lyndhurst, New Jersey. Lyndhurst Municipality Police Chief celebrated with the Turks attending the ceremony by participating in a traditional folk dance form Ankara. This is the third year in a row that that the Turkish flag has been raised in commemoration of October 29th Republic Day at the municipality building in Lyndhurst.