Autumnal equinox festivities start in capital

  • 2001-09-13
  • Virgilijus Savickas
VILNIUS - Riga is not the only city in the Baltics that knows how to have a good time.

True, "Riga 800" was one of the biggest Baltic parties to hit the scene for some time, but Lithuania won't be left in the dust.

The international event "Capital Days: Vilnius 2001" started on Sept. 4 and will continue through to the autumnal equinox on Sept. 22. The Vilnius city municipality can enjoy a marathon of festivities that includes art exhibitions, concerts, sporting events and fairs, and all of which cost the organizers a total of 350,000 litas ($87,500). The total amount that fair goers are expected to shell out on snacks and games offered may run up to 1.5 million litas.

Twenty-five cultural events, 13 exhibitions and 10 sporting competitions have been scheduled.

The first Capital Days celebration was held in the fall of 1991 under the guise of Gediminas Day, a time to honor the grand duke, Vilnius's founding father, who established the town in 1323.

The Vilnius festival as it is today was begun four years ago.

This time, 13 cities from around the world that are "twined" with Vilnius are taking part in the festivities including cities like Chicago, Madison, Duisbourg, Prague and Kiev.

Lithuanian florists wove a record-long garland of flowers that were made part of the official opening ceremony. Some military men helped to hang it around the top of the Gediminas castle tower.

Even beer drinkers had a chance to show their skills. Sept. 7 marked the opening of the eighth beer festival, "Three Days and Three Nights," arranged in Vingis Park. Lasting three days, the theme for the party was "country-wedding." Although these cool and rainy fall days may not be the best weather for drinking brew, there was never a shortage of beer or country-music fans to enjoy it.

The international festival "Vilnius Jazz" begins Sept. 20 and will groove for three days at the Lithuanian Russian Drama Theater, Vilnius City Hall and café Neringa. The star of the festival this year is Kurt Elling, a jazzman from Chicago, with his group. Four of his latest albums have been nominated for Grammy awards.

Those curious about history can go to the Franciscan fair. Opening on Sept. 14 in City Hall Square, it will be the top trade event of the season as the Kaziukas fair isn't coming around until the spring.

"Chicago's Twining Project" - sponsored by the city of Chicago, the Lithuanian Fund in Chicago, the Culture Center of Chicago and the Consulate General of the Republic of Lithuania in Chicago - offers a number of art exhibitions and art actions. A group of 35 optometrists from Chicago will examine people's eyesight and plan to bring a supply of 6,000-7,000 pairs of glasses for charity.

And even more festivals, the fire sculpture festival "Autumnal Equinox" lights up at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 21 followed by the capital's carnival that takes off at 4 p.m. on Sept. 22.

It is typical to find masses of tourists in Old Town Vilnius most days, but with the Capital Days there are sure to be plenty of local tourists, too. Foreign tourists will think they really did land in a big and crowded European city.

Even though one of the purposes pursued by the organizers of this huge celebration is to honor Grand Duke Gediminas, it might be that the most honored of all will turn out to be those ancient patrons of trade (Mercury) and drinking (Bacchus). As many events are free of charge, the only profit to the city budget from this long party will be coming from local sales taxes.