The opening ceremony of the 4th Kapıkaya International Nature Sports and Culture Festival, the first "Climate Change" themed festival of Turkey, was attended by the Rector of Ondokuz Mayıs University Prof. Dr. Yavuz Ünal and Vice-Rectors Prof. Dr. Cengiz Batuk, Prof. Dr. Selim Eren, and Prof. Dr. Mahmut Başoğlu attended.

Samsun Governor Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zülkif Dağlı, Samsun Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Mayor Nihat Soğuk, Bafra District Governor Cevdet Ertürkmen, Bafra Mayor Hamit Kılıç, protocol members and many citizens attended the opening ceremony, which started with the model aeroplane show of Private Göktürk Aviation High School students.

After the model aeroplane show, Bafra Mayor Hamit Kılıç delivered his greeting speech and said, "This year, we are holding the fourth of our festival, which we have not been able to hold for the last two years due to the pandemic. We are hosting Turkey's most important festival. The main starting point of our Kapıkaya Festival is paragliding, but it also includes many activities such as water sports and mountain walks. At our festival, we are doing significant events one after the other. We have nearly a thousand tents set up now and guests from various parts of Turkey."

In addition, Bafra District Governor Cevdet Ertürkmen, who made a speech at the official opening ceremony, thanked the guests and participants by saying, "Bafra not only has a world-class value like Kızılırmak Bird Sanctuary but also has cultural assets like Kapıkaya and İkiztepe."

The ceremony continued with the speech of the Deputy Mayor of Samsun Metropolitan Municipality Nihat Soğuk, "We believe that such a valuable festival held in Bafra is important for all stakeholders of Samsun. KAPIKAYFEST has undertaken an important role in the promotion of our Samsun." Deputy Mayor Soğuk completed his speech by conveying the greetings of Samsun Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mustafa Demir, who had to take a break from his duty due to health problems.

Samsun Governor Zülkif Dağlı, who made a speech at the ceremony, said, "Allah has truly given our Bafra and Samsun fertile lands, beautiful water resources, and beautiful geography and natural environment. After the pandemic, our people were really bored and felt suffocated. When I came here, I learned that there were splendid activities back in 2019. We had to be patient for two years together with you. Hopefully, these activities will grow and develop by increasing participation and quality. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our guests who participated.

After the opening ceremony, Rector Ünal and Vice-Rectors visited the Ondokuz Mayıs University stand and other stands and chatted with the stand staff. After seeing the stands, Rector Ünal gave an interview about the festival to Samsun's national channel, Kanal S.