CELEBRATE THE RIVER!
On May 25th 2024, for the 5th time, the event “Celebrate the River!" will take place. We'll be kayaking, canoeing, rowing, sailing, and boating on the Nemunas River in Kaunas, fostering cultural connections. Along the riverbanks, cultural islands will be set up, hosting artistic, creative, sporting, and community activities. Bring your kayak to paddle on the river, arrive by bicycle, or explore the cultural islands on foot (no need to register independently for island visits!).
The cultural program is F R E E. Activities will be held in Lithuanian.
PRESS AND REGISTER WITH YOUR WATERCRAFT FOR FREE OR RENT A KAYAK!
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Kaunas emerged at the confluence of two major rivers in Lithuania, and for many years the rivers represented connections and exchanges for the city's residents. Today, the rivers unite us all, living in different neighborhoods, into a cohesive city, where we create new relationships and cultural exchanges ourselves.
“Celebrate the River!” is a community initiative that arose during the “Kaunas - European Capital of Culture 2022” project, aimed at promoting the opening of rivers (their waters and banks) for cultural events, community gatherings, and creating new art phenomena. It is also an invitation to jointly cultivate the awareness and respect of city residents for the rivers - to talk about the importance of nature to the city and the city's impact on the rivers; to strive for ecological sustainability.
The initiative was born in 2020, when three active women representing different Kaunas communities - Romena, Vitalija, and Gita - shared their dream of Kaunas residents becoming more actively involved with the rivers, their banks, and rediscovering the identity of the local communities living by the rivers.
You can follow the news of “Celebrate the River!” on Facebook page, Facebook group and Instagram account.
Moments from the previous “Celebrate the River!” events - here.
programa
CULTURAL PROGRAM
River and earth artwork “Message” and education | Irina Troma
“Create your own water character” | “Kultūros gija”
Sensory experience exercises | “9 Zuikiai”
Improvisation games | “IMPRO Kaunas”
Beach volleyball 3x3 tournament | “Aktyvus laisvalaikio jaunimas”
Exploratory and creative community activities | Panemunė community
Performance under the bridge “Above the River or Below the Bridge” | “Slackline Lietuva, Alternatyviai”
River and earth artwork “Chance” and education | Artist Greta Kardi-Kardišiūtė
Watercolor workshop “Like Fish in Water” | Artist Karolina Aleškevičiūtė
Aromatic experience-workshop “Painting with Coffee” | Artist Eglė Jasaitytė
Stone decoration workshop “Stones” (lt. Akmenai) | Artist Ieva Voroneckytė
Graphics workshop “Underwater Landscapes” | Illustrator Sandra Valavičiūtė
Workshop “Postcards with Grass” | Designer Vita Urbonaitė
Workshops on folk dances and watercolor pouring | Creative and Employment Stuba
Improvisation games | “IMPRO Kaunas”
Exploratory and creative community activities | Šančiai community
River wall art painting | Ramūnas Vaicekauskas
River and earth artwork “Being Here” and education | Artist duo Inga Raubaitė and Žilvinas Višinskas
3022 interactions tent: interactive experience “River Futures Scenarios”, “Blackout Poetry” workshop, arts & crafts corner, bookshelf, musical instruments, unexpected snacks | 3022 creative group
Half songs festival PDF pop-up interaction | Emerging Kaunas
Game “Fish of Kaunas Lagoons” | Emerging Kaunas
Nature elements experience “Sensory Trail” | Creative and Employment Stuba
Water education “Fire and Ice – in Our Hands!” | VMU AJMD Modusas
Nature education and game “Wheel of Scents” | Lithuanian Zoo
Dance performance “Dreamers” | Dance group “Nuepiko”, VMU dance and theatre pedagogy students
Slow dance experiential action | Interdisciplinary and performative art creator Eglė Nešukaitytė
Sketch of contemporary dance performance “Spring, Despite Everything” | PDF Dance Theatre
Lindyhop / Swing Jazz Live Music | The Shoekillers Band
Word and myth workshop “Flowing Milk and Poppy Rivers” | Non-practicing architect and sleepless dreamer Magdalena Beliavska
Education game “Museum on Wheels” | Lithuanian Museum of Education
Educational entertainment “Experience a Paragliding Flight in the Simulator!” | Lithuanian Aviation Museum
Education “154 Cultures for Kaunas” | Kaunas Cultural Centre of Various Nations
Tasting of acorn coffee and “Santarvės” tea | “Pelėdų kava”, “Santarvės” community
SPA zone: sauna and hot tub | Sauna master Gaudenis Satkus
ACTIVE PROGRAM
START: 10:30 / 12:00 (choose route when registering)
FINISH: until 15:00 - 16:00. | Santaka (Nemunas Riverbank) | GPS: 54.89901, 23.87431
DURATION: 3 hrs., 15 km* / 10 km**
* Route 1 is longer - sightseeing
** Route 2 is suitable for families with young children!
LOCATION: Panemunė Beach (A. Smetonos St. 4) | GPS: 54.87582, 23.96568
TIME: 10:30 – 14:30
TOURNAMENT: 3x3 for beginners (two boys and a girl), limited number of teams
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Organized by “ALJ – Aktyvus laisvalaikio jaunimas”
START: 10:00 | Panemunė Beach (A. Smetonos St. 4) | GPS: 54.87582, 23.96568
ROUTE: Panemunė – Žemieji Šančiai – Nemunas Island
DURATION: 5 hrs., 7 km
The route is more suitable for adults; if taking your children along, assess their abilities.
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The sensory hike is led by “9 Zuikiai”
“Celebrate the River!” on bikes
Beach volleyball tournament 3x3
Sensory hike
ALSO AT THE RIVER
“Pirates of Poetry”: a delightful abduction of souls into poetry readings on a boat | Poetic performance group “Poetautojai”
Adventurous journey on the Nemunas River | “Ąžuolyno biblioteka”
Orientation game | Creative Austėja Rimdžiūtė (only for those sailing on the river!)
... and many more river entertainments!
PRE-EVENT ENTERTAINMENT
River bracelets workshop
River bracelets workshop
