The 26th International Folklore Festival "Tek saulužė ant maračių" and St John's Day in Neringa invite to a midsummer celebration. On 21-24 June, folklore ensembles, music performers, storytellers, naturalists and craftsmen will join together to enjoy the magic of the shortest nights of the year in Lithuania's most picturesque location - on the shores of the Curonian Lagoon.

Festival programme: 

Friday, June 21

6 p.m. Ceremonial raising of the festival flag and opening of the festival. Participants: folklore ensemble "Ratilio" from Vilnius University, folklore ensemble "Labingis" from Vilnius, folklore ensemble "Giedružė" from Nida. Old-fashioned games with Jonas Kavaliauskas, the founder of "Etnopramogos".
Square next to the Neringa Municipality Administration Building, Taikos str. 2, Neringa

8 p.m. "Sounds of Nida": concerts of folklore ensembles in Nida cafés "Sakutis" (Naglių str. 14A, Nida) and "Tik pas Joną" (Naglių str. 6, Nida).

9 p.m. Evening concert "African drums". Performers: Gediminas Mačiulskis, percussion studio "African drums".
Next to Nida Lighthouse, Urbas Hill, Nida

Saturday, June 22

8 a.m. Morning walk with naturalist Elmaras Duderis. Pre-registration at www.kulturossala.lt.
Meeting place: next to Nida bus station, Naglių str. 18E, Nida

10 a.m. - 10 p.m. Crafts and folk art fair on Naglių street in Nida.

11.20 a.m. Excursion-game with local historian Denisas Nikitenka "Postcard to the past. Discover Nida". Pre-registration at www.kulturossala.lt.
Meeting place: next to Mizgiriai Amber Museum, Naglių str. 27, Nida

12 noon. Animation workshop with Valentas Aškinis, Ilja Bereznickas and Jūrate Leikaite. Programme of animated films by Lithuanian filmmakers (67 min.). Pre-registration at www.kulturossala.lt.
Preila Community House, Preilos str. 27, Neringa

12 noon. Ancient games recorded in Nida "Meškeris", "Grilis", "Patranka" with Jonas Kavaliauskas, founder of the "Etnopramogos".
Square by the sculpture of V. Kernagis in Nida

1 p.m. - 5 p.m. Educational activities for the whole family at Nida Fisherman's Ethnographic Homestead (Naglių str. 4, Nida):

● Neringa Museums' recreated ancient game "Meškeris";

● "Learn the fisherman's craft", led by Neringa fisherman Karolis Tamulis and his family;

● Ceramics workshop with Indre Dikavičiūtė;

● Educational programme of the Toy Museum "A game as old as life";

● Šilutė Museum educational programme "Kafija ir wofeliai";

● Making wicker and braid bands, led by Tomas Antropikas;

● Hair braiding with Barbora Skirgailaite;

● Sewing and embroidery of traditional pocket bag "delmonas" with Inga Krasuckienė.

3 p.m. - 5 p.m. Educational activities in the courtyards of Nida craftsmen: folk artist Algirdas Marčius (Naglių str. 15, Nida) and Jolanda Truikienė (Naglių str. 25, Nida, entrance from the central square).

1 p.m.- 4 p.m. Curonian Spit National Park educational game "Discover the Curonian Spit".
Naglių str. 8, Nida

1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Dance performance "Soteria" by Šeiko Dance Company on our perception of death. Number of participants is limited. Pre-registration is required at www.kulturossala.lt.
Meeting place: Neringa Municipality Viktoras Miliūnas Public Library, Pamario str. 53, Nida

4 p.m. - 6 p.m. "The legend of Neringa comes alive". A journey of giant puppets through the Curonian Spit. Meetings with the giants Neringa and Naglis in Preila, Pervalka and the seaside.

6 p.m. Concert by the folklore ensemble "Durrwanger Danzfreunde" from Balingen in the Swabia region (Germany). After the concert, an evening of dances and games with the folklore ensembles "Spinning the Wheel". Participants: Vilnius University folklore ensemble "Ratilio", Vilnius folklore ensemble "Labingis", Šiauliai folklore ensemble "Salduvė", folklore ensemble "Gastauta" from Rokiškis Culture Centre, women's line dance group "Dorė" from Nida.
Square next to the Neringa Municipality Administration Building, Taikos str. 2, Nida

7.30 p.m. Procession with the giants - Neringa and Naglis - along the Curonian Lagoon to the Thomas Mann Museum.

8 p.m. Fado music on the porch of the Thomas Mann Museum. Performers: Ana Lains, Paulo Loreiro (piano), Bernardo Couto (Portuguese guitar).
Skruzdynės str. 17, Nida

Sunday, June 23

10 a.m. - 10 p.m. Crafts and folk art fair on Naglių street in Nida.

12 noon. Tournament of the ancient game "Ripka" from organised by Lithuanian ripka club from Plateliai (Plungė district). Registration for teams by email culture@visitneringa.lt or phone +370 614 13343.
The foot of Parnidis dune near Neringa's chair

12 noon. Animation workshop with Valentas Aškinis, Ilja Bereznickas and Jūrate Leikaite. Programme of animated films by Lithuanian filmmakers (67 min.). Pre-registration at www.kulturossala.lt.
Nida Community House, Taikos str. 17, Nida

1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Educational activities for the whole family at Nida Fisherman's Ethnographic Homestead (Naglių str. 4, Nida):

● Educational programme of the Toy Museum "A game as old as life";

● Educational programme "Discover the end of the thread" by Neringa Health Club "Esuva";

● Educational programme "Secrets of Wood" by the master craftsman Antanas Butkus.

5 p.m. The Table Theatre performance "Fairy tales and games".
Square at the V. Kernagis monument in Nida

5.30 p.m. Children's entertainment and games in the memoirs of Richard Pietsch, former fisherman of Nida. Excerpts from the book read and narrated by Aušra Feser.
Nida Fisherman's Ethnographic Homestead, Naglių str. 4, Nida

6 p.m. Children's and adults' game night "Ryla rala" presented by folklore ensembles from Lithuanian regions.
Nida Fisherman's Ethnographic Homestead, Naglių str. 4, Nida

7 p.m. – 2 a.m. The Dew Festival in Preila. Concert by the folklore group "Sedula".
Preila beach next to the Preila rescue station, Nida-Smiltynė road 29, Neringa

7.30 p.m. Herbalism, wreath weaving and Dew Festival ceremonies with herbalists and fortune tellers Irena Ungailienė and Lina Šimonienė.
Valley of Silence, the foot of Parnidis dune, Nida

9 p.m. Midsummer celebration in Nida, live broadcast of the LRT programme "Duokim garo". After the concert - night dancing.
Meadow in Nida harbour

Monday, June 24

8 a.m. Sun Salutation. Gong sounds with Linas Švirinas.
On Parnidis dune by the sundial, Nida

10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Crafts and folk art fair on Naglių street in Nida.

Organisers: Neringa Municipality, Nida Culture and Tourism Information Centre "Agila"

The project is partly financed by the Lithuanian Council for Culture

Photoes by Domas Rimeika.