In Šiauliai, March 11 Will Unite the Community, Historical Memory, and the Spirit of Freedom

On March 11, 2026, the Day of the Restoration of Lithuania’s Independence will be commemorated in Šiauliai. Events dedicated to this significant date for the state will begin as early as March 2 and will continue until the festive day itself. On that day, residents of Šiauliai and guests of the city are invited to the traditional march “Lithuania in Our Hearts,” organized for the thirteenth time, the Lithuanian State Flag raising ceremony, a mass pinwheel dance, concerts, and exhibitions. Various institutions will open their doors for festive events, offering residents and visitors many opportunities to meaningfully commemorate March 11.
Initiator – Šiauliai City Municipality. Organizer – Šiauliai Cultural Center. Events are free of charge.

March 11, 1990 became a decisive turning point in Lithuania’s history – the day when the independent state was restored and the nation’s right to determine its own destiny was reaffirmed. This date symbolizes people’s unity, courage, and faith in freedom. While commemorating the Day of the Restoration of Lithuania’s Independence, we remember the path we have taken and once again affirm our responsibility to protect the state, its language, culture, and values.

“Freedom is not something that can be taken for granted – it requires a daily choice to be responsible, honest, and united. March 11 reminds us that the state begins with the individual, with one’s relationship with the community and one’s city. It is encouraging to see young people actively engaging in the commemoration of this day – it shows that the idea of freedom is being passed from generation to generation. Let us believe in our people and in our future,” says the Mayor of Šiauliai, Artūras Visockas.

This year, children and young people will be the first to speak about the theme of freedom. On March 2, the children’s and youth art exhibition “A Drawing of Freedom for Lithuania” will shine in the colors of the Lithuanian tricolor in the park of the Rėkyva Cultural House of the Šiauliai Cultural Center (Energetikų St. 7). In their drawings, young authors uniquely interpret Lithuania, its freedom, history, and symbols, and the works will be displayed on illuminated cubes. The exhibition will invite visitors into a space of visions of freedom created through the eyes of young people and will remain open until April 3.

Historical memory and today’s civic awareness will be connected through the video installation “March 11 Portals: Living Historical Memory,” which will be presented in Kaštonų Alley from March 10 to 12. Its visual content is created by director Aleksandr Špilevoj, video artist Dinas Marcinkevičius, and composer Deividas Gnedinas. The installation will use archival material revealing the path toward the restoration of Lithuania’s independence. It will be complemented by newly filmed footage reflecting today’s determination to safeguard freedom. Residents of Šiauliai themselves will also become part of the project – their faces and stories will remind us that the independence of the state lives as long as people protect it.

On the morning of March 11, the city will awaken with a spirit of unity. At 10:30 AM, the tricolor march “Lithuania in Our Hearts” will begin, connecting different spaces and people of the city. Young people of Šiauliai will become part of the march – students from gymnasiums and progymnasiums carrying an impressive 300-meter-long national flag. The procession will be accompanied by the Šiauliai Wind Orchestra (art director and conductor S. Vaičiulionis, conductor G. Brūzga), and the route from Šiauliai Arena to Prisikėlimo Square will become a living symbol of patriotism. At 11:00 AM, Holy Mass will be celebrated at the Cathedral of St. Apostles Peter and Paul.

At noon, the ceremonial commemoration in Prisikėlimo Square will combine tradition with the modern spirit of community. The Lithuanian State Flag will be raised, the national anthem will be sung, and congratulatory speeches will be delivered. The Lithuanian State Flag will be raised by Julius Čepauskas, a graduating student of Šiauliai University Gymnasium, who this academic year won first place in the city stages of the chemistry and biology olympiads and second place in the regional stage of the economics and entrepreneurship olympiad. The anthem will be sung by Gabija Kumpytė, a soloist from Šiauliai 1st Music School. A congratulatory speech will be delivered by Kipras Spulginas, a graduating student of Šiauliai “Romuva” Gymnasium – a young man who won first place in the city stages of the Lithuanian language and literature olympiad, as well as in the Young Philologists and Artistic Word competitions. The achievements of these young people symbolize the Lithuania of the future – curious, talented, and responsible.

After the official part, participants will be united by a mass pinwheel dance – a colorful community action inviting everyone, regardless of age, to become a living symbol of freedom. The festive program in Prisikėlimo Square will continue with a concert by the band “Saulės kliošas,” featuring songs reflecting the spirit of freedom.

At 2:00 PM, the commemoration will move to the Šiauliai Cultural Center gallery “Laiptai,” where the event dedicated to March 11 “Lawyer and Museologist Peliksas Bugailiškis and the Idea of a Free Lithuania” will bring together history and the present. The personality of Peliksas Bugailiškis, the founder of the Šiauliai “Aušra” Museum, will be honored, the vision of the Peliksas Bugailiškis Ethnology Center will be presented, the Peliksas Bugailiškis Award will be presented, and his home will be opened to the public. This symbolic return to the origins will become a meaningful sign of freedom and cultural memory. The event will culminate in the festive concert “When Freedom Speaks.” The Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra conducted by Modestas Barkauskas will perform, and the program will be hosted by Jomantė Šležaitė-Paukštė. Admission – with free invitations, which will be distributed from March 3 at the ticket office of the Šiauliai Cultural Center gallery “Laiptai” (number of invitations is limited).

During the festive period, many other initiatives will take place in the city – exhibition visits, educational activities, excursions, creative workshops, and quizzes.

The full program of events can be found on the websites of the Šiauliai City Municipality (www.siauliai.lt) and the Šiauliai Cultural Center (www.siauliukc.lt).

Photos by Liubov Yarmoshenko and Gintarė Daknytė.

Information provided by Edita Smindriūnaitė, Head of the Exhibition Department of the Šiauliai Cultural Center, mob. +370 656 13 886, e-mail edita.smindriunaite@siauliukc.lt.