On the Day of the Restoration of Lithuania’s Independence, Kaunas is preparing a spectacular spectacle – from Tuesday until the late of 11th of March, in the evenings and nights, Laisvės alley will turn into an impressive glowing tricolor. Another artistic light installation will light up in the garden of the Vytautas the Great War Museum around the Statue of Liberty. On Thursday, Kaunas residents will be able to participate at an orienteering game on foot. At that time, other planned performances due to quarantine restrictions will continue to take place only virtually, spreading the festive mood directly to the home of every Lithuanian.

“Kaunas celebrates Freedom! Last year, we celebrated 11^th of March in the garden of the War Museum, and now we have to use ingenuity to broadcast the festive mood to the home of every Kaunas resident in today’s conditions. We believe that even remote events will not diminish that uplifting feeling of pride in our free and independent country. In addition, the city has prepared some safe open-air entertainment to make the Day of the Restoration of Lithuania’s Independence a truly meaningful and memorable day,” said Kaunas City Deputy Mayor Mr. Mantas Jurgutis.

Already on the evening of March 9, Laisvės alley will be flooded with tricolor lights. Their installation will adorn the city until Friday morning during the dark hours of the day. Next to it, bright spotlights will rise in the garden of the Vytautas the Great War Museum, symbolically highlighting one of the most prominent symbols of our nation – the statue of Juozas Zikaras “Freedom”.

Recently, registration for the orienteering game “Laisvės keliu” has also started. Its participants, on Thursday afternoon, will visit interesting, perhaps even undiscovered places in Kaunas. Orientators traveling on their chosen route on foot with family and loved ones will have the opportunity to learn unheard facts about the city. Most importantly, it will ensure a safe, active and fun afternoon of March 11th.

Detailed information about upcoming events and a registration link to the orienteering game can be found in the Facebook event account “Kaunas švenčia Laisvę!” (Bit.ly/Kovo11Kaune2021).

It is important to note that Kaunas continues the tradition and will traditionally invite Kaunas residents to travel on the public transport of the city free of charge.

The virtual events program will begin on the eve of March 11th. On Wednesday, we will traditionally honor the memory of the signatories by visiting and placing flowers on their graves.

On Wednesday night, 6 p.m., Kaunas residents are invited to a remote lecture-discussion “XIX-XX c. Lietuvos laisvės kovų atmintis – žvilgsnis į 1863-1864 m. sukilimą”. It will be attended by an archaeologist, Head of the Medieval and Modern Archeology Department of the Lithuanian National Museum Mr. Valdas Steponaitis and the Head of the Castle Department of Kaunas City Museum, historian prof. dr. Jonas Vaičenonis.

Kaunas Chamber Theater with the performance “Alksniškės” by director Gytis Padegimas will invite those who miss performances. It contains stories about Kazys Grinius, reflections on freedom, coup and the future.

The Day of Restoration of Lithuania’s Independence will begin with the traditional laying of flowers in the garden of the Vytautas the Great War Museum. True, due to quarantine requirements, a joint ceremony will not be held this time.

The Kaunas Big Band, KTU Youth Choir “Jaunystė” and the soloist of the ensemble “Ainiai” Ms. Sandra Lebrikaitė are preparing a musical performance for the citizens at home. The bands will together perform “Palaimink, Dieve, Mus”.

Also, there will be musical performance by mixed choir “Diemedis” – Oskar Peterson’s “Hymn to Freedom”. The musical part of the program will be crowned by the chamber concert of Kaunas State Musical Theater “Skriski Lietuvėlė” and a virtual review of Vidmantas Bartulis’ work “Pranašytsės dabarties Lietuvai”.

The textile studio “Gijų sodai” will invite you to visit the creative workshop “Trispalvė bracelet” remotely, and the program of virtual events will end with the performance of Kaunas Dance Theater “Aura” by choreographer Ms. Birutė Letukaitė’s work “Aseptinė zona arba Lietuviškos sutartinės”.

The organizer of the events dedicated to the Day of Restoration of Lithuania’s Independence is Kaunas City Municipality. Main partners: Kaunas Culture Center, Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania, Kaunas “Akropolis” and “Kaunas – European Capital of Culture 2022”.