The Pomegranate Festival in Goychay

The pomegranate is one of Azerbaijan's symbols. It appears on carpets and tableware, it's offered to guests, and its juice becomes narsharab, a thick sweet-and-sour sauce. The main pomegranate region is Goychay, about 230 km from Baku.

The festival

The Pomegranate Festival (Nar Bayrami) is held in Goychay every year, usually in late October or early November at the height of the harvest. Exact dates are announced closer to autumn.

What happens

• Markets with dozens of varieties, from sweet to sour.
• Juices, wines, jams and narsharab from local producers.
• Contests for the biggest pomegranate, concerts and folk dances.
• Cooking workshops with pomegranate dishes.

Combining it with a trip

Goychay is on the way to Gabala and Sheki, so the festival fits easily into a northern route, with golden forests and hazelnut season too. Message us if you'd like to go — we'll confirm dates and arrange the trip.