Joninės – St John’s or Midsummer – is a big occasion in Lithuania and celebrations are planned all over the country.
Lithuanian cities and towns have made sure that the shortest night of the year is full of light and excitement. From traditional Midsummer bonfires to concerts with well-known performers and fire shows on the water, the choice is wide this year. LRT.lt has summarised all the events you can catch on the night from Friday to Saturday.
KERNAVĖ
Lithuania’s mythical first capital, Kernavė takes pride in fostering ancient traditions. The town starts the festivities from Friday lunchtime – at noon, a fair of craftsmen, folk artisans and culinary heritage lovers will begin, and at 20:00 a festival on the mounds will begin. The bonfire will be lit at 23:00. Wreaths will be launched into the Neris River at midnight, and at 04:30 the most enduring ones can join the sunrise greeting and dew baths.
RUMŠIŠKĖS
Midsummer night at the Open-Air Museum of Lithuania will start on Friday 20:00. It will bring together opposing elements – tradition and modernity, folklore and electronic music, field flowers and coloured lasers, light and darkness, fire and water.
VILNIUS
From 19:00 until sunrise, the traditional Dew Festival will be buzzing in the Verkiai Manor Park. For the twenty-third time in midsummer, when nature and herbs flourish, mound up and dew, the ancient festival of the shortest night – the summer solstice – is celebrated here. Participants are invited to dress up with wreaths, make a dome of nine herbs, take a little bundle and spend time in the linden-scented Verkiai Park with their families and friends.
KAUNAS
Together with P.A.R.A.K.A.S, located in the labyrinths of the Kaunas fortress, Kaunas Artists House is throwing a traditional (but not at all traditional!) Midsummer Day. Songs, games, spells, performances and... goats will help you celebrate the shortest summer night. A place balanced for communication and friendship, so don't forget fun company and blanket!
KLAIPĖDA
Friday 19:30, the Midsummer celebration will be buzzing on St John’s Hill. On a magical evening, the hill, decorated with the motifs of the national costume of the Klaipėda region, will be the venue for weaving wreaths, gathering, playing games, making jewellery decorated with Baltic symbols, listening to traditional music and dancing. Milda and Teresė, of the well-known band Baltos Varnos (White Crows), will perform on stage at night. The Midsummer Market on St John’s Hill will be buzzing from noon until midnight.
NERINGA
On June 22-25, Neringa invites visitors to embark on a legendary international folklore festival Tek Saulužė ant Maračių, filled with legends, the search for the fern blossom and the magic of Midsummer’s Night. Educational activities, nature hikes, concerts and other events will take place for four days on the coast of Lithuania’s most beautiful resort, together with music performers, ethnologists and craftsmen from different countries.
PANEVĖŽYS
As every year, on June 23 the Culture and Recreation Park will celebrate the shortest night of the year with the Midsummer Festival. From 16:00 onwards, Panevėžys residents and visitors will be welcomed by national and cultural heritage promoters, craftsmen, artists and traders. Various entertainment and activities will start at 18:00. People will be able to take part in educational programmes, make wreaths, listen to herbalists talk about the healing powers of plants, etc. From 21:45, the most enduring participants of the event will exercise their legs in night dances with the band Kamanių Šilelis.
JONAVA
Due to its name, Jonava is the official capital of Joninės celebrations in Lithuania. Among other traditional activities, the town is celebrating with performances by Thundertale, Mantas Jankavičius, Beissoul & Einius and others.
DRUSKININKAI
The spa town on the bank of the Nemunas is planning celebrations with stylised ceremonial elements and games: wreaths, decorated sacral gates, dancing and singing by bonfires.
ZARASAI
On Friday at 19:00, everyone is welcome to the Midsummer celebration in the Little Valley of the Zarasas Lake Island, with dance groups, folklore ensembles and bands from the Zarasai District Municipal Culture Centre and the national dance and song ensemble Ave Vita from the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. The Kitava band and the Allegretto band will perform.
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