Šiauliai Welcomes Its 789th Anniversary – the City Birthday Promises a Burst of Cultural Events

It has become a beautiful tradition that at the start of autumn, the people of Šiauliai and guests of the city gather to celebrate the city’s birthday – an event that connects generations, invites reflection on history, pride in achievements, and the creation of new memories. This year’s “Šiauliai Days 789” comes with a refreshed visual identity, designed by Vilmantas Dambrauskas, graphic designer at Šiauliai Cultural Center. The centerpiece of the new visual is a stylized sun, inspired by traditional Lithuanian wrought-iron sun motifs.

This choice is symbolic, representing two meaningful directions. Firstly, it is an allusion to Šiauliai as the Sun City, whose name and identity are inseparable from the symbolism of light, energy, and life. Secondly, it pays tribute to the Lithuanian traditions of cross-crafting and artistic blacksmithing. Iron sun motifs, traditionally adorning crosses, chapels, and wooden poles, not only pleased the eye but conveyed deep spiritual meaning. This cultural heritage, included in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2001, becomes the symbolic foundation of this year’s celebration. The new identity invites everyone to view the city through the lens of identity, continuity, and light – values that remain significant to every citizen of Šiauliai.

“The image of this year’s celebration reflects the roots of our cultural identity – Lithuanian cross-crafting and the symbolism of wrought-iron suns. It is not only visually expressive but also a meaningful emblem, inviting people to a celebration that nurtures creativity, tradition, and togetherness. Each year, ‘Šiauliai Days’ grows into a stronger cultural highlight of the city, and this year we invite everyone to celebrate the 789th anniversary with pride in our roots and in the living, breathing city,” says Deimantė Bačiulė, Director of Šiauliai Cultural Center.

Organizers reveal that this year’s celebration will offer both traditional and new events for the people of Šiauliai and city guests. Resurrection Square will become the epicenter of professional music during “Šiauliai Days 789”, where classical, jazz, and modern music will meet. The unique atmosphere will fill the space with solemnity, creativity, and artistic elevation. On September 12 at 9:00 p.m., the concert “Šiauliai Loud”, organized by the concert institution “Saulė”, will take place in the square. It will be a modern and energetic closing act for the first evening of the celebration.
September 13 offers a rich musical program in Resurrection Square: from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. – a concert for children “In the World of Cartoons” and an entertainment-educational space for little ones, 4:00 p.m. – a concert program of Benjaminas Gorbulskis' most popular songs “Life is Wonderful”, 5:00 p.m. – a musical journey “Musical Fantasy: The World of Andrew Lloyd Webber”, and at 6:00 p.m. – the festive concert “Panevėžys Greets Šiauliai”, a musical gift from the neighboring city of Panevėžys.

The festive mood will also flow through the city’s arteries – the pedestrian boulevard and Varpo Street – where a vibrant fair will take place, inviting visitors to taste, shop, connect, share, and enjoy. Alongside will be the “Šiauliai Tourism Street 2025”, where one can discover not only the city’s and region’s unknown spots but also scenic areas of neighboring Latvia. The participants of the amateur art festival “Autumn Mosaic” will share their talent, hearts, and creativity with the city audience – this will become a true reflection of cultural autumn.

On September 12 at 6:30 p.m., a festive parade and motorcade procession “Šiauliai Shines” will awaken the city. It will follow a new route: Vytauto St. – Tilžės St. – Aušros Ave. – Central Park Stage. This is one of the most impressive parts of the celebration, showcasing the creativity and unity of institutions, organizations, collectives, and active citizens. Parade participant presentations will take place at Resurrection Square, transforming it into a live stage and gathering place.

As every year, the true heartbeat of the celebration will be felt at the Central City Park Stage, where the major concerts will take place. On the evening of September 12, from 8:00 to 11:10 p.m., the opening event “Singing Šiauliai” will feature Girmantė Vaitkutė performing well-known songs together with singing Šiauliai youth, while stars such as Linas Adomaitis and the electronic pop duo “Beissoul & Einius” will ignite an emotional storm. This concert will not only symbolically open the gates to the celebration but also remind everyone that Šiauliai is a city where song plays a vital role.

On the evening of September 13, from 8:00 to 11:30 p.m., the concert “Sounding Park” will feature contemporary music stars – the charismatic band “Free Finga”, the delicate Giedrė with her band, and as a true gift to the people of Šiauliai – a concert by Justė Arlauskaitė-Jazzu. This special performance is presented by “Gubernija”, which celebrates its honorable 360-year anniversary this year. It will be an evening where emotions, sound waves, and city grandeur merge – everything that makes the celebration unforgettable.

For the first time, this year’s celebration at Lake Talkša will feature a unique musical fountain show – the legend “Born of a Dream” about the Sun City, expected to become one of the most impressive highlights of “Šiauliai Days 789”. The spectacular 70-meter-long water streams of the fountain will synchronize with music, lights, and specially created visual projections. A giant screen of 35 and 18 meters, installed above the water, will serve as a storytelling canvas, displaying a visual story about the creation of the Sun City. This artistic tale will take viewers into a mystical journey where a tribe of sun worshippers, led by the wise warrior Golden Archer, found a place where the sun’s rays met the earth and founded a city glowing with courage, light, and life – Šiauliai. Every burst of light and every note of music will revive this legend and remind audiences of the spirit of Šiauliai – strong, alive, and ever-burning.

This year, the Sun Dial Square will also be activated during Šiauliai Days, becoming a hub of cinema and family entertainment. On September 12, from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., the open-air summer film festival “Silver Crane Nights” will take place – audiences can expect meetings with filmmakers and screenings of the latest Lithuanian films under the stars. On September 13, from 12:00 to 6:00 p.m., the square will host the family event “Meadow of Discoveries”, sponsored by Lithuanian retail chain Maxima – concerts, performances, educational activities, kite-making workshops, exhibitions, and creative spaces for the whole family. The day will conclude with evening cinema screenings – the “Sun Cinema Square” program will begin at 6:30 p.m., inviting all to experience emotional and visually captivating films about humanity, nature, and culture.

The organizer of the celebration is Šiauliai City Municipality and the main event producer is Šiauliai Cultural Center. Thanks go to the patron of “Šiauliai Days 789”, AB MV GROUP “Production”, brand “Gubernija”, general sponsor UAB “Nostrada” (“RV Transport”), main sponsors UAB “Šiaulių energija”, UAB “Bodesa”, UAB “Splius”, UAB “Artelux NMF”, UAB “Baltik vairas”, UAB “Mano būstas”, UAB “Maxima LT”, sponsors UAB “Aukstata”, UAB “LTintus”, UAB “Apsaga”, UAB “Rūta”, partners UAB “RD Signs”, UAB “Kensa”, UAB “Vonin Lithuania”, UAB “Toksika”, UAB “Plungės lagūna”, UAB “Valumina”, AB “Artea bankas”, UAB “Transalda”, security company “Argus”, UAB “Elitus”, UAB “AR10”, “Marionette”, UAB “Diab”, the main media sponsor Lithuanian National Radio and Television, and media supporters – Etaplius media group, newspaper “Šiaulių kraštas”, UAB “LTAdvert”, and “Owexx”.

The full program of the city celebration “Šiauliai Days 789” can be found on the websites of Šiauliai City Municipality (www.siauliai.lt) and Šiauliai Cultural Center (www.siauliukc.lt).

For more information, contact Edita Smindriūnaitė, Deputy Head of the Event Organization Department at Šiauliai Cultural Center, mob. +370 656 13 886, email: edita.smindriunaite@siauliukc.lt.

Photos: R. Parafinavičius, L. Yarmoshenko, A. Stankutė, E. Aleksandravičienė, G. Daknytė, J. Zablockienė, K. Songailė, L. Beržinytė Gulbinienė, V. Ramanauskienė, Ž. Bytautienė, and personal archives.