CELEBRATE THE RIVER! | Cultural Route Along the Rivers
Kaunas was founded at the confluence of two of Lithuania's major rivers, the Neris and the Nemunas. The rivers are the city's primary means of communication and exchange. "Celebrate the river!" invites you to experience the city's rivers through cultural itineraries on the water and on the banks, to make new connections, share music, stories, games, performances and fellowship.
The event is open to all citizens and visitors, family members, neighbours, friends and like-minded people who love rivers and the unexpected. You are welcome to celebrate the river with kayaks, canoes, boats, rafts, paddleboards or any other watercraft.
2023 "Celebrate the River!" theme is "The river is our home", and we invite you to decorate yourselves with festive attributes, implement creative, cultural and educational activities.
CULTURAL SAILING | Neris and Nemunas
Two cultural routes (10-12 km) are planned for 27 May. Live music will be played on the rivers, and at the cultural stops, participants will enjoy creative workshops, education, games, cognitive and active activities and other surprises. Canoe registration/rental: here
Sailing in the Nemunas. The route starts at Panemune beach, starting at 10 am. On the route: live music, outdoor games, sensory experiences, quizzes, photo studio, workshops.
Sailing on the Neris. The route starts in Lapiai municipality, Kaunas district, starting at 10 am. Workshops, theatre improvisations, Zumba rhythm movement, orienteering, water research, plein-air painting, education. For those paddling along the Neris route, the opportunity to take part in an orienteering game prepared by Čiulba ulba (registration and information at the starting point, using the ULBA GO app).
Finish. Both routes will meet in Kaunas Santaka Park, where the Neris and Nemunas meet, participants will arrive here before 3 pm.
The routes are friendly for both cyclists and pedestrians, who are invited to celebrate the river by visiting cultural stops along the banks.
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Celebrate the river! | Cultural river route, fb event: here
Cultural cycling routes, fb event: here
Bike route registration (you must bring your own bike): here
Sensory Hike 10 km along the banks of the Nemunas, fb event: here
Registration for the sensory hike (recommended for adults): here
Nemunas sports tournaments, fb event: here
Registration for the tournaments: FB Vydas Zabulionis or tel. 8 684 39804, organised by Active Leisure Youth, ALJ
Painting plein air and workshops in the Neris Quay Park: no pre-registration, curated by Karolina Aleškevičiūtė, email
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On Saturday 27 May 2023, activity stops will be set up on the river banks and for a while become activity islands on the routes. They are public and open to all, accessible by bike/pedestrian path, and outside the city centre by public transport.
For those who don't take the bus, we recommend visiting the activity stops and islands located in Kaunas city territory. Pre-registration is only required for tournaments on the sports island. For those paddling on river routes, pedalling on bike routes or going on a sensory hike, pre-registration is REQUIRED.
CULTURAL STOPS - ISLANDS I Neris banks:
MOTION ISLAND / START: Panerio recreation area, Kaunas district | 10-13 hrs. | 54.95922, 23.99651
(recommended only for paddlers and cyclists; there will be workshops, improvisations, snacks, and the start of an orienteering game)
Costume and Props Workshop | Designer Rita Kazokaitė.
Sustainable snacks education | Foxy community restaurant.
Zumba warm-up with Latin American rhythm | Coach Kristina from Lapis community.
Games and improvisations | Impro Kaunas.
Orienteering game on the Nerima River | MB Čiulba Ulba
SCIENCE ISLAND: Radikiai, Kaunas district | 11 am - 1 pm | GPS: 54.95981, 23.95445
(stop only for paddlers! Together with a scientist, we will learn about organisms living in water, enjoy acorn coffee and engage in improvisations)
Education "Diversity of aquatic organisms" | Doc. Dr. Ingrida Šatkauskienė
Games and improvisations | Impro Kaunas.
Deep coffee tasting | Owl coffee.
PAINTING ISLAND: The Neris Embankment Park | 12-3 pm | 54.90787, 23.89634
(painting, postcard and other workshops, no pre-registration)
Watercolour workshop and plein air painting | artist Karolina Aleškevičiūtė.
Cognitive and creative community activities | Vilijampolė Community Centre "Veršva" and Šilainiai Community Centre.
BALANCE ISLAND : P. Vileišio Bridge, Pilies str. | 54.90256, 23.89174
(for paddlers it is not accessible, it is recommended to come along the shore, no registration)
Interaction "Hanging hammocks" | Slackline Lietuva, Alternatively, KTU hiking club "Ąžuolas".
CULTURAL STOPS - ISLANDS I Banks of the Nemunas:
SENSORY ISLAND / START: Panemune beach | 10-13 hrs. | 54.87582, 23.96568
(recommended for everyone! Sensory experiences, outdoor team and individual games, educational and creative workshops, no pre-registration)
Costume and Props Workshop | Designer Rita Kazokaitė.
"Wooden outdoor play yard" | MB Vertimų pramogos.
Educational activity "Sensory experience" | 9 bunnies.
Educational stand "Sensory Silk" | association "KINAS Panemunė", NGO Alternatively.
Cognitive and creative community activities | Panemunė Community Centre.
CREATIVE ISLAND: Žemieji Šančiai beach | 11 am - 1 pm. | 54.8633, 23.93082
(suitable for paddlers, cyclists or walkers; educational and creative workshops, outdoor photo studio, river texture animation, no pre-registration)
Outdoor photo studio | No Name studio.
Animation workshop "River Textures" | Artist Saulius Paliukas.
Cognitive and creative community activities | Žemieji Šančiai Community Centre, Petrašiūnai Community Centre, Palemonas Community Centre.
"Buzzing Bees" rafting concert | Giedrius Fluxus, Ramunė Kreivai Lyja, Renatas Savickas.
SPORTS ISLAND: Kaunas Santaka Park, volleyball court | 11 am - 3 pm | 54.8633, 23.93082
(for kayaking on the river, it is not accessible, we recommend that you don't go to the tournaments, pre-registration is required)
Volleyball tournament for beginners 3*3 | Active Leisure Youth.
Lightning Chess Tournament | Active Leisure Youth.
Other sports activities: table tennis, badminton, disc golf, etc. | Active Leisure Youth.
OVERALL FINISH:
DISCOVERY ISLAND / FINISH: Kaunas Santaka Park, confluence of rivers | 13-16 hrs. | 54.89929, 23.874264
(fun workshops and education, the whole variety! No registration required)
Interactive installation "Time lapse" | 12GM.
Graphic image workshop "Greetings" | Creator Sandra Valavičiūtė.
Workshop "My Sheep in the Green Meadow" | S. Nėries and B. Bučo House-Museum.
Educational programme "From pen to book" | Maironis Lithuanian Literature Museum.
Educational programme "Forest of Gods" | B. and V. Sruogis House-Museum.
Educational programme "Subtleties of Water" | VMU AJMD Modusas.
Game and education "Let's live sustainably!" | Kaunas Regional Waste Management Centre.
Cognitive and creative community activities | Aleksotas Community Centre, Lampėdžiai Community Centre.
Thaumatrope education | FC Romuva.
Education "Tastes of Nations" | Foreigners education.
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"Let's celebrate the river!" is part of Kaunas birthday programme.
"Let's celebrate the river!" is an initiative born during the "Kaunas - European Capital of Culture 2022" programme. The cultural programme is organised together with active citizens, creative and local communities, artists, cultural institutions and other organisations.