Halabja bursts with color as Pomegranate and Autumn Festival opens

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) — The 11th edition of the Halabja Pomegranate and Autumn Festival opened on Thursday, transforming the city into a vibrant scene of color, fragrance, and community pride.

Thousands of visitors filled the festival grounds as the aroma of pomegranates, honey, and Kurdish delicacies mingled in the autumn air. This year’s event, showcases 650 booths displaying the region’s agricultural richness and traditional craftsmanship.

Rows of pomegranate stalls glowed under the fall sun, their ruby hues symbolizing both Halabja’s natural abundance and the resilience of its people. Local farmers proudly displayed their best harvests, many holding open pomegranates like treasures of the land.

Due to the festival, Thursday was declared an official holiday in Halabja, allowing families and visitors to join the festivities freely. The remaining two days coincide with the weekend, turning Halabja into a three-day celebration of agriculture, culture, and community.

Last year’s festival attracted 285,000 visitors. Organizers now expect over 300,000 guests to attend this year’s event, and as the festival continues through the weekend, Halabja’s pomegranates once again serve as both a symbol of prosperity and a reminder of the region’s deep agricultural roots—where every seed carries the story of the land.