Event Series “The Growth of the Sun. The Protecting Bear”

PROGRAMME
2026

June 13–23

Large-Scale Chamotte Sculpture Symposium “Sun Pillars”
Featuring artist teams from Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Germany
Lake Talkša waterfront (near the Iron Fox sculpture)
Organizer: Šiauliai Cultural Center. Partner: Šiauliai Art School

June 23

7:00–10:00 p.m. – “Courtyards of the Elements”
Experiential spaces celebrating the ethnocultural traditions of Midsummer (Joninės)

7:00–10:00 p.m. – Water Element Courtyard
Zubov Park (Aušros Ave. 50)
Transformation Gate ritual, interactive space White Linen Courtyard, educational activity Mead House, creative workshops Spirits of the Trees and A Drop of Scent, and musical performances The Sounding Spring by the Šiauliai Cultural Center folklore ensembles Salduvė (Art Director D. Daknys) and Vijolė (Art Director A. Stankus), together with the youth folklore ensemble Vieversėlis of the Šiauliai Dainai Music School (Director A. Stankus).
Special surprises await all those named Jonas, Janina, and Janis!
Organizer: Šiauliai Cultural Center

7:00–10:00 p.m. – Earth Element Courtyard
Square near Šiauliai City Municipality (Vasario 16-osios St. 62)
Coin minting, leather and brass workshops, educational activities on traditional wooden percussion instruments and tree-cake baking, ethnographic games, and vendors of culinary and folk-art heritage products.
Organizer: Šiauliai Cultural Center

7:00–10:00 p.m. – Air Element Courtyard
Povilas Višinskis Square (Vilniaus St. 130)
Educational sessions on traditional herbal incense making and fumigation, woven sash-making workshops, Valpainiai cheese tasting, butter-churning demonstrations, educational activities by the Valerijonas herbal shop, folk dances featuring Šiauliai Cultural Center ensembles: folk dance ensemble Kalatinis (Art Directors I. Šerpytienė and E. Račkauskas), folk dance groups Vajaunas (Art Director R. Laugalis) and Šėvulis (Art Director G. Petrauskė), the folk dance studio Šermukšnėlė and senior folk dance group Šermukšnis of Šiauliai Dainai Progymnasium (Directors I. Šerpytienė and E. Račkauskas), and the folk dance ensemble Šėltinis of Šiauliai Jovaras Progymnasium and Didždvaris Gymnasium (Directors V. and R. Laugaliai, G. Urbonavičius, G. Petrauskė), along with culinary heritage vendors.
Organizer: Šiauliai Cultural Center

7:00–10:00 p.m. – Fire Element Courtyard
Courtyard of Vilnius University Šiauliai Academy (P. Višinskio St. 38)
Divination using midsummer herbs, a herb market, ritual performance Amber Dust, and educational demonstrations of fire-making with flint.
Midsummer flower wreaths, herb bouquets, and amber dust products will be available for purchase.
Organizer: Šiauliai Cultural Center
During the evening, visitors who collect special stamps from the Courtyards of the Elements will be able to exchange them for a commemorative gift at the Sundial Square.

10:30–11:30 p.m. – Concert Programme “We Are Lithuania!”
Sundial Square (Ežero St. 64)
Featuring the Lithuanian State Ensemble Lietuva (Art Director G. Svilainis, Chief Conductor E. Kaveckas)
Organizer: Šiauliai Cultural Center

11:45 p.m. – Unveiling of the Large-Scale Chamotte Sculptures “Sun Pillars”
Featuring the Pasvalys sutartinės singing group Rags, the Šiauliai Cultural Center choreography studio Aušrelė (Art Directors M. Kosaitis and V. Adomėnaitė-Butnorienė), the folk dance ensemble Šėltinis of Šiauliai Jovaras Progymnasium and Didždvaris Gymnasium (Directors V. and R. Laugaliai, G. Urbonavičius, G. Petrauskė), and the folk dance studio Šermukšnėlė (Art Directors I. Šerpytienė and E. Račkauskas).
Lake Talkša waterfront (near the Iron Fox sculpture)
Organizer: Šiauliai Cultural Center

OTHER EVENTS

June 23

6:00–9:00 p.m. – Kupolinės Celebration
Programme: gathering midsummer herbs and wreath weaving, Kupolinės bonfire and midsummer fortune-telling, music, dancing, circle dances, and games.
Featuring the folklore ensemble Spigėns (Telšiai, Lithuania), the Kelmė senior arts groups Pavakarys and Naktigonė (Lithuania), the folklore ensemble Lastivočki of the Ukrainian Integration Centre Malva (Ukraine–Šiauliai, Lithuania), and the alternative folklore group Daj Ognia (Kraków, Poland).
Žaliūkiai Miller’s Farmstead Museum of the Šiauliai Aušra Museum (Architektų St. 73)

June 25
8:00 p.m. – STOGAS FM Concert
Part of the 23rd International Chaim Frenkel Villa Summer Festival programme
Featuring electric violin performer Diego Esteban (Colombia) and the band Midas Touch (Lithuania)
Rooftop Terrace of the Photography Museum of the Šiauliai Aušra Museum (Vilniaus St. 140)

June 26
10:30 p.m. – Night Tour “Stories of Šiauliai Cinema”
Ticket price: €8
Registration: +370 678 07707
The guide will meet participants near the Saulė Concert Hall (Tilžės St. 140)
Organizer: Šiauliai Tourism Information Centre

June 27

12:00–4:00 p.m. – Foster Family Festival “Children Are Children”
Programme: musical performances, a record-attempt activity, creative workshops, educational, active, sports, and recreational activities, entertainment zone, and the Delicacies Alley of the City of the Sun.
Featuring performer Rokas Yan and band, Laura Remeikienė, Laura’s Studio (Director L. Remeikienė), the band Vairas, the Šiauliai Wind Orchestra (Conductor G. Brūzga), the Šiauliai Cultural Center choreography studio Aušrelė (Art Directors M. Kosaitis and V. Adomėnaitė-Butnorienė), soloist Eglė Žalalienė, the Foster Care Centres Choir, and the percussion ensemble Rhythm Differently (Director A. Banys).
Šiauliai Central City Park
Organizers: State Child Rights Protection and Adoption Service under the Ministry of Social Security and Labour, Šiauliai City Municipality, Šiauliai Cultural Center, Šiauliai City Municipal Social Services Centre, and Šiauliai City Family Centre

June 28

11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. – Family Festival “The Rose Code”
Programme: guided tours of the rose garden, educational activities, rose cosmetics workshops, introduction to floristry, Harvest Fair, performance by the historical dance and theatre studio Il ballo della luna from Kiduliai, and free museum admission.
Park and Rose Garden of the Chaim Frenkel Villa of the Šiauliai Aušra Museum (Vilniaus St. 74)

Unless otherwise specified, all events are free of charge.

Initiated by Šiauliai City Municipality. Organized by Šiauliai Cultural Center.

Rules for the Use of Unmanned Aircraft (Drones) at Public Events

Dear visitors, by attending these events, you acknowledge and agree that they may be photographed or filmed, and that photographs may be published on the Šiauliai Cultural Center website, in the media, or on social media platforms.