This enchanting Baltic nation remains blissfully uncrowded while offering everything from pristine forests and gorgeous coastlines to a capital city bursting with history and culture. But the real magic of Lithuania? Its incredible year-round festivals and events! Discover how to make the most out of your Baltic trip by using this Lithuania events guide to ensure you don’t miss a thing!
“When’s the best time to visit this Baltic gem?” is a question we often hear. The truth is, there’s something spectacular happening every season! That’s why our Expat Explore team has created this ultimate 2025 Lithuania Events Guide. We’ve handpicked the most exciting celebrations that showcase this country’s unique spirit, from dazzling winter light festivals and pagan midsummer traditions to quirky pink soup celebrations (yes, really!) and vibrant music festivals.
Whether you’re drawn to cultural immersion, foodie experiences, or simply want to party with locals in a stunning setting, these Lithuanian events deliver unforgettable travel memories without the tourist crowds of Western Europe. Dive into our month-by-month guide below and start planning your perfect Lithuanian adventure!
Lithuania Events Guide: Top 2025 Festivities
Vilnius Light Festival
24-26 January 2025
Love a good light show? You’re in for a treat! Once the Christmas lights have been taken down and the coldest time of the year brings about the winter blues, the Lithuanian capital brightens things up with the Vilnius Light Festival. This annual event celebrates the city’s birthday with dazzling light displays all around the Old Town.
Kaziukas Fair
7-9 March 2025
Ready to shop like a local? Don’t miss Kaziukas Fair, the crown jewel of Vilnius’ market scene! This beloved spring tradition transforms Gedimino Prospektas (the city’s main boulevard) into a vibrant, bustling bazaar that locals wait for all year. You can wander through hundreds of stalls showcasing Lithuania’s finest artisanal crafts while the aroma of traditional foods fills the air and street performers create a festive atmosphere at every turn.
Our top tip? Be sure to pick up a verba – a colourful, intricately handcrafted Easter palm made specially for this occasion. These unique souvenirs are impossible to find outside Lithuania and make the perfect memento of your springtime Baltic adventure!
Related: Discover Europe’s weirdest Spring Equinox traditions!
Kaunas Jazz
25-26 April 2025
Jazz lovers, mark your calendars! Lithuania’s largest international jazz festival has been bringing world-class music to the charming city of Kaunas for over three decades. This legendary event transforms Lithuania’s second-largest city into a buzzing hub of musical brilliance, featuring concerts, educational events, masterclasses, and collaborations with visual artists.
While we’re still eagerly awaiting the full 2025 lineup, we can already tell you that the incredible American saxophonist James Carter is confirmed as a headliner. Trust us, his electrifying performances alone are worth planning your trip around! Whether you’re a dedicated jazz aficionado or simply enjoy soaking up the festival atmosphere, Kaunas Jazz offers the perfect soundtrack to your spring Lithuanian adventure.
Street Music Day & Museum Night
17 May 2025
Imagine an entire city transformed into one gigantic open air concert venue! That’s exactly what happens during Vilnius’ magical Street Music Day. For 24 unforgettable hours, Lithuania’s capital explodes with melody as musicians of all genres claim every corner, square, and alleyway. This year’s theme is “Dress Rehearsal” where musicians are encouraged to showcase their creative process throughout the day.
It’s the perfect time to wander through the historic streets of Vilnius and discover everything from classical quartets and folk ensembles to rock bands and electronic DJs, all performing for free while locals and visitors dance, sing, and celebrate together.
But the fun doesn’t stop when the sun goes down! This year, Street Music Day flows seamlessly into Museum Night, when Vilnius’ cultural institutions throw their doors open for after-hours exploration. Over 30 European cities participate in this continent-wide celebration of art and culture, with museums offering free exhibitions, special performances, and unique activities you won’t experience any other time of year. This incredible two-for-one cultural extravaganza showcases Vilnius at its vibrant best!
Related: Soak up the sounds of Europe’s most musical cities.
Pink Soup Fest
31 May 2025
Ever attended a festival dedicated entirely to soup? And not just any soup, but bright pink soup! Welcome to one of Lithuania’s most delightfully quirky celebrations! Pink Soup Fest honors šaltibarščiai (pronounced shalt-ee-barsh-chay), a cold beetroot soup that has achieved cult status in Lithuanian cuisine thanks to its refreshing taste and Instagram-worthy vibrant pink colour.
This free festival transforms one of Vilnius’ largest public parks into a pink wonderland where everything, and we mean EVERYTHING, gets the pink treatment! Zoom down the giant pink slide, strike a pose at countless pink photo stations, enjoy live music and performances on pink-decorated stages, and of course, sample your way through dozens of pink soup variations. From the traditional recipe (featuring beetroot, kefir, cucumber, and dill) to creative chef-inspired twists, you’ll discover why Lithuanians are so passionate about this colourful culinary tradition.
Don’t worry if you’ve never tried šaltibarščiai before, this festival is the perfect introduction to Lithuania’s most photogenic dish. Come hungry and wear something pink – you’ll fit right in!
Related: Read our guide to Lithuanian cuisine for more delicious local dishes!
Culture Night
13 June 2025
Culture vultures, this one’s for you! For one magical summer evening, Vilnius transforms into a 24-hour celebration of creativity where art breaks free from traditional venues and spills into every corner of the city. Culture Night features an astonishing 100+ free events that turn Lithuania’s capital into one enormous interactive gallery, concert hall, and theatre.
Vilnius’ vibrant streets come alive with contemporary dance performances in historic courtyards, poetry readings in hidden gardens, immersive art installations in unexpected spaces, and musical concerts ranging from classical to experimental. The beauty of Culture Night is that no two experiences are alike, you can craft your own cultural adventure by following a planned route or simply letting curiosity guide you to whatever catches your eye (or ear!).
Our tip? Check out the free Culture Night map online and mark a few must-see events, but leave plenty of room in your schedule for spontaneous discoveries. With performances continuing well into the early hours, this is your chance to experience Vilnius’ unique creative scene at its most dynamic and accessible!
Joninės
24 June 2025
Want to experience a true Baltic tradition that dates back thousands of years? Joninės (pronounced yo-nin-es) is Lithuania’s summer solstice event that celebrates the longest day of the year with ancient pagan rituals and modern festivities. While celebrated throughout the country, the most authentic experience happens in Kernavė, a medieval city close to Vilnius.
Kernavė transforms into an enchanted realm of folklore and tradition. Locals and visitors alike weave wildflower wreaths to wear as crowns (believed to bring good fortune), leap over bonfires for luck and purification, and search for the mythical fern flower that supposedly only blooms on this magical night.
The celebrations include traditional folk music, dancing, feasting on seasonal foods, and a ceremonial greeting of the sunrise. The party continues until dawn, which, this far north, means about 4:30 AM! It’s a rare chance to connect with Lithuania’s deep pagan roots in a joyful celebration that feels both timeless and thoroughly alive.
Our tip: Bring a light jacket for the early morning hours, and don’t miss the chance to float a candle-lit wreath down the river at midnight, it’s said to reveal your romantic future!
Klaipėda Sea Festival
26-28 July 2025
This annual festival has been making waves since 1934! For three spectacular summer days, the charming port city of Klaipėda transforms into a nautical wonderland celebrating Lithuania’s deep connection to the Baltic Sea.
The entire city becomes a festival ground as sea-themed festivities spill from the historic Old Town to the bustling harbour with markets, music stages, and a fantastical carnival parade where people dress as mythological sea creatures! For sea enthusiasts, international sailing events and fishing competitions add to the maritime excitement.
Our tip: Don’t miss the ceremonial blessing of the ships, a beautiful tradition offering a glimpse into Lithuania’s deep relationship with the sea.
As Young As Vilnius
25 July 2025
Every year on St. Christopher’s Day (Vilnius’ patron saint), the capital celebrates by hosting Lithuania’s biggest free concert in the beautiful Vingis Park. This isn’t your average local festival, past lineups have featured international stars like Bastille, Rita Ora, and Lewis Capaldi sharing the stage with Lithuania’s hottest artists!
The concert draws thousands of locals and visitors who spread blankets across the park’s lush grounds for an unforgettable summer evening of world-class music under the stars.
Our tip: Pack a picnic, bring friends, and experience Vilnius at its most vibrant and welcoming.
Related: Here’s how to spend 24 hours in Vilnius!
LOFTAS Fest
11 September 2025
Ready to discover why Vilnius is nicknamed “Little Berlin”? Head to LOFTAS Fest, where Lithuania’s underground music scene truly comes alive! This multi-day celebration of alternative culture transforms one of the city’s most iconic venues, a sprawling Soviet-era factory turned cultural hotspot, into a pulsating playground of creativity; this is LOFTAS.
By day, expect cutting-edge art installations and creative workshops. As night falls, the venue erupts with everything from heart-pounding techno to indie rock and avant-garde performances until sunrise.
What makes LOFTAS special is its authentic underground vibe paired with world-class production, the perfect glimpse into the creative heart making Vilnius Eastern Europe’s newest cultural hotspot.
Christmas Lights & Markets
December 2025 – January 2026
Dreaming of a magical winter wonderland? Lithuania transforms into exactly that during the festive season! Like many European countries, Lithuania hosts a number of Christmas markets that look like they came straight out of our favourite festive movies, but the activity that reigns supreme? Its famous Christmas tree competition!
Related: Travel around the globe to see the world’s best Christmas lights!
These are just a few of the top events we felt needed a spot in our 2025 Lithuania Events Guide, but even more are sure to be announced throughout the year. As you can see, there’s something magical happening in this Baltic gem year-round. Make more memories on your visit to Lithuania by experiencing at least one of these fun and affordable celebrations!
Visit Lithuania on any of our Baltic tours! Discover the many highlights of this enchanting, historic and unique region with our range of guided group tours.
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