The Magic of the Elements on Midsummer’s Night in Šiauliai: the City Transformed into a Living Experience Under the Open Sky

On June 23, 2025, Šiauliai came alive with the celebration of Joninės – a festival that invited everyone on a sensory journey through the four elements of nature: earth, water, air, and fire. This year’s event, organized by the Šiauliai Culture Center, became not just a spectacle, but a living experience where everyone could engage, create, and feel. Elemental yards located in different parts of the city offered a closer look at Baltic traditions – here music played, ancient crafts revived, and workshops, creative activities, and divinations took place. The evening culminated with a festive concert and a spectacular ritual of light and fire – the unveiling of chamotte sculptures inspired by the four elements of nature.

Organized by Šiauliai City Municipality. Implemented by Šiauliai Culture Center.

This year’s Midsummer celebration in the City of the Sun invited visitors into a unique experiential game – a journey through the four elements of nature, which came to life in live yards scattered throughout the city. These yards – like small oases of ancient settlements – offered each visitor the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of Baltic traditions, where crafts, music, divinations, and rituals intertwined.

The Water Element Yard in Zubov Park invited people to dive into a theatrical water mystery, meditative practices, and clay workshops. Every visitor was symbolically welcomed and cleansed of misfortunes through the “Gate of the Sun’s Transformation,” while a nearby photography exhibition titled “Ethnocultural Connections in Lithuanian and Ukrainian Life” offered insight into both nations’ wedding customs and traditions, revealing shared cultural ties.

In the heart of the city, the Earth Element Yard pulsed with life in the square near Šiauliai City Municipality – full of bustling visitors, revived blacksmithing, leather, and woodworking crafts, the sound of traditional cowbells, and the aroma of freshly baked bread that invited people to pause and reconnect with nature. This yard became a true workshop of traditions, where everyone could touch an ancient craft, feel living history, and reconnect with their cultural roots.

The Air Element Yard in Povilas Višinskis Square breathed lightness, movement, and a spirit of community. There was no shortage of dance, song, and playful folk energy – on stage performed Šiauliai Culture Center’s folk dance groups: “Kalatinis” (artistic directors Indrė Šerpytienė and Evaldas Račkauskas), “Šėvulis” (artistic director Greta Šveikauskaitė), and “Vajaunas” (artistic director Romualdas Laugalis). Surrounding the stage were creative and educational areas – visitors could try macrame knotting, willow weaving, learn ancient textile techniques, or simply relax in a bright and inviting environment.

The Fire Element Yard, located in the courtyard of Vilnius University Šiauliai Academy, became the true hearth of the celebration’s mysteries and transformation. Here, fire symbolized not only warmth but also inner transformation – prophecy, strength, and spiritual purification. The yard was filled with the scents of an herbal market, and fortune tellers using the magic of plants invited visitors to glimpse into the future. The smell of amber dust, the breath of embers, and ritualistic elements created an intense, symbolically charged atmosphere. This space encouraged people to pause – to hear themselves, shake off the dust of everyday life, and draw strength.

As evening fell, the rhythm of the celebration moved to the Music Yard in the Sundial Square. Here, not only the participants of the experiential journey – who had visited all four elemental yards and earned symbolic commemorative gifts, nature-inspired souvenirs – gathered, but also everyone who wished to immerse themselves in the live swirl of summer sounds. The Music Yard became the heart of dance, sound, and togetherness – on stage performed folk masters the band “Sutaras,” singers Rasa Serra and Petunija, who created a unique synthesis of folk traditions and modern sound.

As night enveloped the city, everyone followed the path of light to the shore of Lake Talkša, where the climax of the celebration awaited – a light and fire ritual. Here, four chamotte sculptures were ceremoniously unveiled – “Earth,” “Water,” “Air,” and “Fire” – symbolizing the power of the elements and humanity’s creative connection to nature. The sculptures were created over more than a week by artists from Lithuania, Latvia, and Germany.

In the darkness of night, fire and sound created a magical atmosphere – a hypnotic wave of sound from electronic music creator “Girių dvasios” washed over the shores of Lake Talkša and crowned the Midsummer night with the power of a compelling musical rite.

More photos available on the Šiauliai Culture Center Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=siauliukulturoscentras&set=a.1180585987445564

Photos by Rolandas Parafinavičius

For more information, contact Aušra Brijūnienė, Head of the Amateur Art Department of Šiauliai Culture Center, mob. +370 655 25 527, e-mail: ausra.brijuniene@siauliukc.lt