On 24 May, for the 6th time let’s "Celebrate the river!" - let's celebrate Kaunas' birthday and our identity as Kaunas citizens by immersing ourselves in cultural river routes on the Nemunas.
We invite you to paddle kayaks, canoes, rowboats, rowing boats, navigate rafts, and build cultural links. Cultural islands with artistic, creative, sporting, cognitive, and community activities will be located at the coastal stops. By collecting the stories of the river, we invite you to rediscover and experience the river in the city and the city itself!
Detailed cultural programme and more information on the way.
𓂃 ོ𓂃 𓂃 ོ𓂃 𓂃 ོ𓂃
Kaunas rivers have been the city's life arteries for centuries. The Nemunas used to be a trade route connecting Kaunas citizens with the world, and between the wars, Kaunas citizens enjoyed resort life on the riverbanks. The waters of the Nemunas reflect the childhood memories of those who grew up on its banks, perhaps fished there for the first time or dared to swim across it. The rivers contain both historical facts and personal stories—they are part of Kaunas' identity.
𓂃 ོ𓂃 𓂃 ོ𓂃 𓂃 ོ𓂃
"Celebrate the river!" is open to everyone who loves rivers and the unexpected. Cultural and creative experiences on the banks are free. Participants are invited to bring a kayak or other watercraft to paddle along the river, cycle along the shore, or visit the cultural islands along the Nemunas on foot.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROJECT
PROGRAM
FOR THOSE WHO PADDLE ON THE NEMUNAS:
REGISTRATION / RENT A BOAT: bit.ly/irkluosiu-baidare
- START: 10:00 or 11:30 (please choose the time of arrival at the start when purchasing your ticket) | Panemune beach, A. Smetonos alėja 4
- Finish: until 15-16:00 | Kaunas confluence, Nemunas riverbank near the marina / amphitheatre
- DURATION: 3-4 hours, 10 km (duration depends on your paddling pace and engagement at cultural stops)
* We recommend you create festive merchandise that reflects you or your mood while paddling!
** Orientation game for river paddlers only!
CYCLING ALONG THE NEMUNAS RIVERSIDE:
REGISTRATION: bit.ly/bicycle-registration
- START: 10:30 a.m. 10:00 / 11:00 / 12:00 (please choose your route when registering, start location varies)
- FINISH: 3pm-4pm | Kaunas confluence, Nemunas riverside
- DISTANCE: 3-4,.5 hours, 14 km / 9 km / 36 km
Route 1 is an archaeological bicycle tour with Kaunas City Museum
Route 2 is suitable for families with small children! with "Minam kartu" / Solveiga
Route 3 is longer - "sport" with "Minam kartu" / Paulius Ba
Read more: bit.ly/dviraciu-registracija
PIRATE SHIP OF POETRY:
REGISTRATION: bit.ly/registracija-poezijos-piratai
- BEGINNING: 10:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
- FINISH: 14-15:00 (depending on the pace of the swim) | Kaunas confluence, Nemunas riverbank
- TIME: 10:00 - 15:00
A raft taken over by poet-pirates will invite the muses to listen to poetry while sailing along the Nemunas. Whether you are a poetry captain, a bocmano, or just a junga, everyone on the raft will get to say a word on the waves. Captains - the poetic performance group "Poetautojai"
. . . .
Let's Celebrate the River!" is a community-based initiative born during the "Kaunas – European Capital of Culture 2022" project. It aims to encourage the opening of rivers (their waters and banks) for cultural events, community encounters, and the creation of new artistic expressions. The
"Celebrate the River!" event is part of Kaunas' birthday programme.
The event will be photographed and/or filmed.
Organisers: Initiative "Celebrate the river!", Kaunas Artists' House.
Partners: International creative platform "CreArt", Community laboratories "Fluxus Labas!".
Supported by Kaunas City Municipality.
CULTURAL PROGRAMME
Panemune beach (A. Smetonos alėja 4)
Registration and start for pre-registered river paddlers, cultural warm-up workshop
- (registration and start for pre-registered river paddlers)
- Get into the whirlpool of the Nemunas dance! | KTU Folk Art Ensemble "Nemunas" (and cultural warm-up at 10:00)
- Theatre workshop "Experience the different levels of the river through games" | Educator Karolina Povilaitytė (and 12:00 start cultural warm-up)
- Installation "Shining Flow" and kaleidoscope workshop | Artists Valda Verikaitė & Audronė Andrulevičienė
- The longest river story on canvas workshop | Designer Ieva Trepkuvienė
- Writing and art workshop "What is your river myth?" | PaKoPa
- Interactive education for sustainable development | Creative artist Neda Riabkaitė
- Cognitive and creative community activities | Panemune Community
Riverside and cycle path (Ringuvos Street)
Science education and experiences, workshops
- Fish anatomy and river depth education| Lithuanian Zoo
- Research with a scientist about what lives in the river | Dr. Ingrida Šatkauskienė (VMU)
- Education "Living Nemunas Valley" | Kaunas Lagoon Regional Park Nature School
- An exciting journey of discovery through the world of living nature and science | VDU AJMD "Modusas" young scientists
- Education on river animals, plants and eye-catching experiments | KTU SMD young scientists
- Education | LSMU Veterinary Academy Student Association
- Windmill and scent workshop "Wind of Ayers" | Artist Rasa Staskonytė
- Portrait photo session "River in the Face - a mirror of stories" | Artist Darius Petrulis
Panemune Bridge (Šančiai side, under the bridge)
Hanging performance under the bridge (no pitstop for paddlers)
- Hanging performance under the bridge | Slackline Lithuania, Alternatively
Žemieji Šančiai beach
Workshops and art and taste education
- Education "Flavours and colours of the river" | Viky Snacks & art studio Aura
- Education "154 Cultures for Kaunas" | Kaunas Centre for Cultures of Different Nations
- Interactive clay moulding experience "Secrets of the River's Depths" | Artist Aušra Šūmakarė
- Playful art workshop "Ship of Life" | Artist Karolina Aleškevičiūtė
- A glimpse of the city and the river in the watercolour moulding workshop | Artist Elvira Drozdova
- Workshop "Sand fantasies" | Lithuanian Education Museum
- River stories: boat workshop with reflections of the city's history | Creative artist Inga Minkevičiūtė
- (Un)floating workshop | The Oak Library Inventors' Headquarters
- Installation "Flow Images" | Artist Aistė Laisvė Viršulytė
- Live mushroom installation "Piece" | Artist Aistė Laisvė Viršulytė
- Acorn coffee tasting | Owl Coffee
- "Poetry Pirates": poetry readings on board| Captains - poetic performance group "Poetautojai"
- Cognitive and creative community activities | Šančiai Community
Karaliaus Mindaugo Ave. embankment (street art wall)
Drawing wall art for the river (no pitstop for paddlers)
- Wall art drawing for the river | Creative artist Ramūnas Vaicekauskas
- Nemunas open microphone "Flow" | Culture and art magazine “Nemunas"
Nemunas Island (riverfront and the quay of Karaliaus Mindaugo Ave.)
Art installations and music performances (no pitstop for paddlers)
- Installation "Liber transitus" | Artist Irina Peleckienė
- Textile sculpture installation | Artist Rūta Simutytė
- Installation "River bed"/bedding | Artists Dominykas Andriuškevičius & Gabija Kopūstaitė
- Flowing experimental sound | Humming bees (Giedrius & Ramunė)
- Water Contract | Creativity and Employment Stuba
- Street dance - Street Jam by the river | Kaunas City Poppers
Santaka (Nemunas coast closer to the marina / amphitheatre)
River and Earth artworks and workshops, musical performances, SPA area, check-out and finish for river paddlers
- (check-out and finish for river paddlers)
- Presentation and education of the River and Earth Art Plein Air Works "Crown", "Flow", "Into the Sun", "Rubik's Cube" | Artists Lina Jonikė, Kristaps Priede, Veronika Žvirblė, Viktoriia Teletien
- Musical performance "Clouds" | In a Cloud duo
- Contemporary dance performance "Pouring from the empty into the void" | KTU dance studio "MoDance"
- "PDF - Half Song Festival: Flowing like a shower" | Kylantis Kaunas
- Basketball you haven't seen before: from the wicker basketball to the three-point basketball | Lithuanian Sports Museum
- "POPup: Edible City meeting | Culture Workshop
- Presentation of the story of the longest river on canvas | Designer Ieva Trepkuvienė
- Spa area: sauna and hot tub | Gaudenis Satkus
- The Oak Library Travelling Workshop | The Oak Library Invention Headquarters
- "Pirates of Poetry": a pleasant abduction of souls to poetry readings on a raft | Captains - the poetic performance group "Poetautojai"
- Orientation game "Collect the stories of the river!" | Creator Austėja Rimdžiūtė (only for those who paddle on the river!)
... and more river activities