The programme of the anniversary celebration will combine long-standing traditions, contemporary city initiatives and new experiences. From an exceptional artistic opening event, the festive parade and major concerts to sports and active leisure events, community-building initiatives, family activities, educational programmes, guided tours and other entertainment – the diverse programme will invite residents and visitors to experience Šiauliai in its anniversary year.
“Šiauliai has been shining through its people, ideas and achievements for 790 years. The city’s history has been shaped by many generations, and today all of us continue that story. That is why the city’s birthday is not only a celebration, but also an expression of gratitude to those who have built, continue to build and promote Šiauliai. I hope that ‘Šiauliai Days 790’ will be a time when we once again feel just how historically significant, distinctive and strong in character our city and its community truly are,” says Mayor of Šiauliai Artūras Visockas.
“Šiauliai Days is a celebration that brings the city together every year, and in this anniversary year that sense of unity takes on even greater meaning. We wanted the programme to reflect the diversity of Šiauliai – bringing together long-standing traditions, professional art, amateur creativity, community initiatives and new events. We invite residents and visitors not only to watch the events, but to become part of the celebration themselves,” says Daina Kinčinaitienė, Head of the Culture Division of Šiauliai City Municipality Administration.
“We began preparing for Šiauliai’s 790th anniversary well in advance, while also thinking about how to make ‘Šiauliai Days’ itself even stronger. We wanted the city’s birthday to be more than major concerts or individual events – we wanted it to become a true city-wide celebration, alive in different spaces and involving communities, families, young people, sports enthusiasts, culture lovers and people with many other interests. Such a programme is the result of the extensive and consistent work of many people. I hope that this year residents and visitors will not only discover events that appeal to them, but will also feel the shared atmosphere of a city celebrating its anniversary,” says Deimantė Bačiulė, Director of Šiauliai Culture Centre.
The city’s birthday celebrations will traditionally begin with the inauguration ceremony of the Honorary Citizen of Šiauliai and a festive concert. On the evening of 10 September, the new Honorary Citizen will be honoured at the Šiauliai City Concert Institution “Saulė”. The ceremony will be accompanied by a concert featuring the Šiauliai City Symphony Orchestra “Camerata Solaris”, violinist Deimantė Laurinaitytė, harp virtuoso Joana Daunytė, soprano Gunta Gelgotė and flautist Giedrius Gelgotas.
Later that evening, the celebration will move to the Sundial Square, where audiences will be invited to experience the artistic event “Geometry of Light”, created by director Dalius Abaris, scriptwriter Mindaugas Nastaravičius and choreographer Aušra Krasauskaitė. This will mark the first major highlight of the anniversary city festival. Through rhythm, movement and visual imagery, the event will tell the story of Šiauliai as a source of inner light, bringing together the city of memory and the city of today. At its heart will be continuous movement, driven by musicians and dancers, sound, light and visual graphics artists, as well as the wider city community in search of the source of time and light. The story will be brought to life by multi-instrumentalist Saulius Petreikis, percussionist Gintautas Gascevičius and a rhythm group, electronic music creators “Happyendless”, the dance troupe of the State Ensemble “Lietuva” and Šiauliai artistic ensembles.
On 11 September at 6 p.m., the streets of Šiauliai will be filled with one of the city festival’s most vibrant traditions – the festive parade and motorised procession “Šiauliai Shines”. Bringing together thousands of participants and spectators every year, the parade will set off from Žaliūkių and Ragainės Streets. Representatives of creative unions, clubs, NGOs, associations, institutions, companies and communities will march together through the main streets of the Sun City, symbolically demonstrating the unity and community spirit of Šiauliai.
The parade will culminate in one of the major musical highlights of the city’s 790th birthday – the concert “Singing Šiauliai”, beginning at 7.30 p.m. at Šiauliai Central Park Amphitheatre. Jurgis Brūzga and young singers will take to the stage and perform well-known songs together with residents and visitors. The programme will feature “Aš tikiu Lietuva” (“I Believe in Lithuania”; music and lyrics by Girmantė Vaitkutė and Home Jazz Band), “Mūsų dienos kaip šventė” (“Our Days Are Like a Celebration”; music by Vytautas Kernagis, lyrics by Vytautas Kernagis, Salomėja Nėris and Juozas Erlickas, arrangement by Danguolė Beinarytė, Jievaras Jasinskis and Artūras Anusauskas) and “Mano namai” (“My Home”; music and lyrics by Eglė Sirvydytė, arrangement by Danguolė Beinarytė). Organisers encourage everyone to learn the lyrics and sing together in celebration of the city’s birthday, showing just how strong and united the community is. Later in the evening, the festive atmosphere will continue with Šiauliai’s “Geltonasis choras”, SHWR, “Colours of Bubbles” and “Solo ansamblis”. Bringing together different generations and musical styles, the programme will blend pop, rock and alternative music and invite thousands of voices to join in one rhythm.
On the evening of 12 September, Šiauliai Central Park Amphitheatre will once again become the main stage of the city festival. From 7.30 p.m., it will host the concert “Skambantis parkas” (“The Sounding Park”), one of the major musical events of the anniversary celebration. AB “Gubernija”, a long-standing supporter of the Šiauliai city festival, has increased its contribution this year and will present concerts by Gabrielė Vilkickytė and Donatas Montvydas with his band as a gift to residents and visitors celebrating the city’s 790th birthday. The evening’s musical programme will conclude with a performance by GJan, bringing even more energy and festive spirit to the night.
At midnight, the evening will culminate in a spectacular fireworks, laser, light and music show by Lake Talkša. The display will symbolically conclude one of the most vibrant evenings of the anniversary festival and illuminate the Sun City as it celebrates its 790th birthday.
One of this year’s new events will be the first-ever “Yellow Late Breakfast (Brunch)”. On 13 September, residents and visitors will be invited to gather around a shared table in Resurrection Square, bring their own food and table decorations, and enjoy a relaxed Sunday afternoon together. Musical performances by Dovi Mi and “3 divos” – Rūta Ščiogolevaitė, Vaida Genytė and Aistė Pilvelytė – together with a competition for the most beautifully decorated table will make the event a warm and community-focused highlight of the anniversary celebration. A seat costs EUR 5. Tickets will be available through the Ticket Market ticketing system from 17 August.
The traditional festive market will once again be an integral part of the city celebration. Vilniaus Street Boulevard will fill with artisans, folk artists, creators and traders, inviting visitors to stop, discover unique handmade goods, taste local treats and take a little of the festive atmosphere home with them. Alongside it, Tourism Street will return for the fifth consecutive year, offering an opportunity to discover cities and regions across Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, their cultures, attractions and travel routes.
The amateur arts festival “Autumn Mosaic”, which has already become a tradition, will once again fill Šiauliai with creativity, music and dance. Ensembles and performers representing various genres will showcase the vitality of amateur art, with choreography giving way to traditional music and performances by choirs, vocal ensembles and bands presenting the colourful panorama of Lithuania’s amateur arts scene.
The youngest festival visitors have not been forgotten either. On 12 September, they will be welcomed by a wide range of entertainment, educational activities and discoveries. A Services Village will be set up in the car park near Šiauliai State Higher Education Institution, where children and families will be able to learn more about the work of the police, firefighters and rescuers, the military, border guards, emergency medical services and other organisations, explore specialised vehicles and equipment, take part in interactive activities and try various challenges. At the same time, Zubovai Park will transform into a family space. At the “Discovery Meadow”, children will enjoy theatre performances, appearances by characters, a spherical cinema, creative workshops, science experiments, active entertainment, educational activities and many other experiences for the whole family.
This year, “Šiauliai Days 790” will invite visitors to explore far more than the main stages. Sports and wellness events, active leisure activities, guided tours, educational programmes, exhibitions, community initiatives and other events will take place across the city, allowing everyone to experience the anniversary celebration in their own way. The programme will include a variety of sporting events – from running, basketball and padel to motocross, rowing and other active pursuits – as well as guided tours and educational activities dedicated to discovering the city.
The programme of “Šiauliai Days 790” will traditionally be enriched by initiatives organised by other cultural and educational institutions in the city. On 11 September, the ensemble parade “Crazzy Accordion”, part of the 16th International Accordion Music Festival-Competition “Linksmasis akordeonas”, will take place at the Vilniaus Street Boulevard Amphitheatre, inviting audiences to immerse themselves in the world of accordion music. On 12 September, the same venue will host the summer film festival “Sidabrinės gervės naktys”, featuring meetings with filmmakers and open-air screenings of Lithuanian films.
For several years now, Resurrection Square has become a space where a different side of the city festival can be heard. Over two days, audiences will be invited to enjoy classical, jazz and contemporary music concerts. On 11 September at 9 p.m., the “#ŠiauliaiGroja Stage” concert series will open with Linas Adomaitis and the Šiauliai City Symphony Orchestra “Camerata Solaris”, led by Artistic Director and Conductor Vilhelmas Čepinskis. On 12 September at 4 p.m., Merūnas will perform with the Šiauliai Wind Orchestra, led by Artistic Director and Conductor Arūnas Kavaliauskas. At 6 p.m., Dominykas Vaitiekūnas and members of the deaf community will present the moving and meaningful concert “Mes taip nesitarėm”, while at 8 p.m. the musical programme will conclude with “Los Secretos de Monika Liu”, inviting listeners into a subtle world of jazz and improvisation.
Šiauliai’s 790th birthday celebration will invite residents and visitors to meet, discover, celebrate and experience the Sun City anew. Events taking place across different city spaces over four days will offer activities for visitors of all ages and interests – from sport and active leisure, family entertainment, guided tours and educational programmes to concerts, exhibitions and many other events. The full programme is available on the Šiauliai City Municipality website, the Šiauliai Culture Centre website and the Šiauliai Celebrates website.
Organisers also draw attention to temporary traffic restrictions during the festival. From 8 a.m. on 9 September until midnight on 10 September, and from 8 p.m. on 12 September until 1 a.m. on 13 September, access to Meškerių Street from Ežero Street towards the Old Cemetery by Lake Talkša will be closed. During the festive parade on 11 September, traffic will be suspended from 4.45 p.m. on Žaliūkių Street (from J. Jablonskio Street to Tilžės Street) and Ragainės Street (from Kreivoji Street); from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tilžės Street (from Ragainės Street) and Aušros Avenue (up to the intersection with Žemaitės Street); and from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. the section of Aušros Avenue between Dvaro and Tilžės Streets will be closed. During the festive market, traffic on Varpo Street between Aušros Avenue and Vilniaus Street will be closed from 7 a.m. on 11 September until midnight on 12 September. From 7 a.m. on 11 September until 6 p.m. on 13 September, access to the car park near Resurrection Square will be closed. On 12 September from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., access to the bus and car parks opposite Šiauliai State Higher Education Institution, as well as to the car park near the square beside Šiauliai City Municipality, will be closed.
The festival is presented by Šiauliai City Municipality and organised by Šiauliai Culture Centre.
Patron of “Šiauliai Days 790” – AB “MV GROUP Production”, “Gubernija” brewery; General Sponsor – UAB “Nostrada” (RV TRANSPORT); Major Sponsors – UAB “Šiaulių energija”, UAB “Bodesa”, UAB “Splius”, UAB “Mano būstas”, UAB “Maxima LT”, UAB “Jupojos statybinės medžiagos”, UAB “Comco”; Sponsors – UAB “Aukstata”, UAB “LTintus”, UAB “Apsaga”, UAB “Rūta”; Friends – UAB “RD Signs”, UAB “Vonin Lithuania”, UAB “Toksika”, UAB “Plungės lagūna”, UAB “Transalda”, security company UAB “Argus”, UAB “AR10”, UAB “Ronelda”, UAB “Diab”; Media Partner – Lithuanian National Radio and Television; Media Sponsors – leisure and entertainment centre “Akropolis”, IĮ “Owexx”, Lithuanian regional news portal “Miesto naujienos” and media group “Etaplius”.
Photos by E. Aleksandravičienė, A. Malinauskaitė, A. Zabaras, I. Masiliūnienė, I. Pudžiamienė, L. Yarmoshenko, R. Ponelis, V. Rojienė and V. Ramanauskienė.
For more information, please contact Edita Smindriūnaitė, Head of the Exhibitions Department at Šiauliai Culture Centre, tel. +370 656 13 886, email: edita.smindriunaite@siauliukc.lt.
