On February 16, Vilnius invites to celebrate Lithuania (program of events) – MadeinVilnius.lt
The State invites Vilnius to celebrate the 16th of February with special events: new and traditional events of the Day of Restoration of the State of Lithuania are taking place in the squares and streets of the main capital.
In addition to the traditional events that are dear to everyone, the day will invite you to the big yard of Vilnius University, where an improvised open lesson “Celebrate Lithuania” will be waiting for you, and in the evening you will be able to see a glowing drone show over Gediminas Tower. One celebration of surprises and innovations – an interactive discussion at the monument to dr. Jonas Basanavičius.
“I invite you to celebrate Freedom in Vilnius together with children and grandparents, without dividing into” us “and” them “, remembering the 1918 In the Resolution of Independence of the Council of Lithuania, it stated the goal of creating an “independent, democratically organized state of Lithuania” and taking care to preserve a good state in which we live. “- invites the Mayor of Vilnius Remigijus Šimašius.
The events will also be available on the big screen in the Cathedral Square.
9 a.m. The racial cemetery will traditionally be honored in 1918. February 16 The signatories of the Act of Independence and the Council of the Lithuanian Freedom Fighting Movement in 1949. February 16 remembrance of the signatories of the declaration.
After a break of a year, thousands of students will gather again for the traditional youth march “On the Way of the Lithuanian State” – young people from all over Lithuania visit 16 important places in the history of the Lithuanian state from the Cathedral Square to the Race Cemetery. From 10 p.m. The procession will traditionally move from the Cathedral Square and stop at the House of Signatories on Pilies Street, where in 1918. February 16 Members of the Council of Lithuania signed the Act of Independence, as well as with dr. Monument to J. Basanavičius, near Aušros Vartų str. 5th Philharmonic, where in the former City Hall Palace in 1905. The Great Vilnius Seimas, convened on the initiative of J. Basanavičius, demanded the independence of Lithuania. The memory of the signatories of the February 16th Act J. Basanavičius, Mykolas Biržiška and Jonas Vileišis and the volunteers who died for the freedom of the Homeland will be honored in the Race Cemetery. This is a special tradition of the Lithuanian school community, initiated in 2016 by the Lithuanian Association and the Lithuanian History Teachers’ Association.
11.30 am An interactive TV discussion about February 16th in present-day Lithuania will begin in J. Basanavičius Square. It is also open to Vilnius residents and guests of the city, who can ask questions to the discussion participants and take part in the survey on the interactive platform. 11:30 a.m. to 1:50 p.m. The House of Signatories, VU Grand, Konstantinas Sirvydas Square and Jonas Basanavičius Square will be open for conversations, music and a lesson about Lithuania, independence and freedom to celebrate and enjoy.
1 p.m. An open festive lesson “Celebrate Lithuania” dedicated to the 16th of February will start in the Great Courtyard of Vilnius University.
At noon, the flag-raising ceremony of the three Baltic States – Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia – will be traditionally hoisted at the Presidential Palace of the Republic of Lithuania in Simonas Daukantas Square, and the President of the Republic of Lithuania will give a speech.
12 noon, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. The Capital Dance Theater (T. Kosciuškos St. 11) invites you to a three-part concert “Yellow Green Red”. There will be 13 national art groups in Vilnius (entrance with invitations).
12.30 p.m. The Day of Restoration of the State of Lithuania will take place on Mass Vilnius St. bishop Stanislaus and St. Vladislav’s Cathedral in the Basilica.
2 p.m. The commemoration of the 16th of February – “Signatories’ Balcony” will take place in Vilnius House of Signatories (Pilies St. 26).
From 6 p.m. Sixteen symbolic February 16 bonfires will be lit again in Vilnius Gediminas Avenue (from the Cathedral to Vincas Kudirka Square).
6:30 p.m. Drones will rise above Gediminas Tower, an exclusive February 16 greeting created with the help of modern technology. It will be possible to watch it from the Cathedral Square and its accesses (the performance may be canceled due to bad weather conditions).
7 p.m. A solemn concert “Endless Flight” (entrance with tickets) dedicated to the Day of Restoration of the State of Lithuania will take place at the Lithuanian National Philharmonic.
In the evening, Three Crosses and the capital’s main bridges across the Neris will shine in Trispalve.
Festive venues are encouraged to keep safe distances and respirators or medical face masks are required.