Pažaislis Music Festival – three months of music (June 1-August 31)

The listeners of the biggest event of classical music in Lithuania– Pažaislis music festival – can traditionally enjoy the concerts of world-famous performers and Lithuanian premieres throughout three summer months.

Since 1996 when the first Pažaislis music festival took place a lot of representatives of music elite had visited Lithuania.  Festival is famous for the fact, that the listeners of the most particular taste may find in the schedule of the festival something what interests them, starting from the old music and finishing with jazz, from the subtle chamber music to the grand vocal instrumental pieces, from the modern music premieres to the impressive pageants of Lithuanian dramaturgy in the approaches of Kaunas Castle. 

CITY DAY (May 20-25)

One of the most significant cultural events that has been organised in Kaunas for several years in a row is the birthday of Kaunas city.  This already traditional Kaunas city festival has acquired mass character and popularity. State officials, officials of related with Kaunas cities, delegations of partner-cities from various countries and many respectable guests are invited to the festival. The mission of Kaunas City Days is strengthening of the image of Kaunas city in Lithuania and the whole world by means of mass and popular festival.

The main events of the festival take place in the streets and squares of the Old Town on the 18^th, 19^th and 20^th of May. Annually, something having historical remaining value is created especially for this Festival, e.g. anthology of poetry about Kaunas, the symbol of the city Kaunutis or the coin of Tauras.

Every year, during the beautiful spring time the city revives. City-dwellers and guests gather at fairs of folk craftsmen, various concerts that present achievements of representatives of professional and amateur popular art and represent artistic life of Kaunas city.

INTERNATIONAL MODERN DANCE FESTIVAL (October 2-6)

The body language is so plastic and meaningful! 

In 1989, AURA (Kaunas modern dance theatre) organised the first modern dance festival in Lithuania and for a long time was considered to be an icebreaker of the Lithuanian modern dance. Within 13 years, about 1000 dancers danced on the stage of the Festival, lots of modern dance seminars have been organised. Troupes from different places of the world, from Japan to the USA, took part in the Festival. Already traditional and well-known International Modern Dance Festival is held in Kaunas every year. The Festival makes a significant part of the cultural life of the city. Famous European and American magazines, such as Dance magazine, Ballet – Tanz and Ballet, write about AURA and the festival. Information about the festival may be found in many dance Internet sites.

Kaunas modern dance theatre AURA organises International Modern Dance Festival every year the first week of October. Troupes from different countries of the world participate in the festival. This year we are planning to arrange a presentation of the American dance in Lithuania where a variety of modern dance of this country would be revealed: from classical modern to physical theatre. Apart from the Americans, dance troupes from other countries shall traditionally participate in the Festival. Performances shall be held in Kaunas Academic Drama Theatre and Hall of Vytautas the Great University.

The Festival aims at introducing various directions of modern dance, one of the most popular forms of art in the Western world, and performances of troupes and independent dancers from all over the world to the Lithuanian audience.

KAUNAS JAZZ FESTIVAL (April 24-28)

The first International Festival Kaunas Jazz was organised in 1991. During the first jazz fiesta in Kaunas, Jonas Jučas rounded up a small group of enthusiasts. Already by that time an objective to expand the geography of Kaunas Jazz became apparent. Later, concerts of festival guests performed in other cities of Lithuania became an integral part of Kaunas Jazz Festival. Every year Kaunas jazz festival changes the image of the city: hundreds of high-spirited people fill in the city to enjoy sound of jazz.

‘The festival that all Lithuania envies to Kaunas converts the city into the Mecca for those longing for good music and communication. Some of the meetings have already gained a name: From one Kaunas Jazz until another’, writes Kaunas city daily newspaper Kauno diena.

Kaunas festival consistently and with great care cherishes abundant festival traditions and almost every year creates new ones. Some of these traditions are exceptional, typical only to Kaunas Jazz festival, as, for instance, Carillon Jazz project that announces the start of the festival in the garden of the Military Museum. Another inseparable tradition of Kaunas Jazz festival is free jazz concerts in the churches of Kaunas.

Kaunas Jazz festival takes place in the end of April. For some time, the organiser of the festival Jonas Jučas used to finish Kaunas Jazz Festival by a traditional now phrase: ‘No more jazz!’. It seems that people believed this statement only at the end of the first festival; later, this phrase became a traditional good-bye until the next spring.

OPERETTA IN KAUNAS CASTLE (July 1-2, 5-6)

This is the unique show of the operatic music in the open that rallies listeners of various tastes. Light and full of salt and optimism music, wonderful costumes and decorations, the skills of performers conditioned the popularity of the festival.

The festival is always a feast to the city, its guests, participants and public. “Operetta in Kaunas castle” is original and first such festival of musical in Europe. In the annual traditional event not only the fragments of musicals are being performed, but also one can hear some new and never heard in Lithuania pieces. In this musical one can hear music from foreign countries not only from Lithuania. July 1-2 Kaunas state musical theatre, Forecourt of Kaunas musical theatre, July 5-6 Kaunas Castle.

BIKE SHOW Millennium & AUTO SHOW 2008. Lithuania (June 7)

„BIKE SHOW Millennium, Kaunas“ – is the biggest rally of bikers, aviators, stuntmen, musicians and public in Lithuania.  „Tornado spirit“ attracts more and more participants from various countries.

„TUNING SHOW Kaunas“ – the most massive auto – moto amateur feast in the busiest part of Kaunas - LAISVĖS ALĖJA: antiquarian, veteran, egzotic, extravagant  with tunning (redone, improved, refined,) cars demonstration; veteran and  other motorcar clubs  presentation to the public, concerts and shows.

KAUNAS CARILLON CONCERTS

The 49-bell Kaunas carillon, established in 1973, is one of the main unique attractions of Kaunas city. Its regular concerts, startet in 1956, are a nice tradition distinguishing the city from other ones. Every Saturday and Sunday, April – December at 4:00 pm outside Vytautas the Great War Museum.

FOLK FESTIVAL “ATATARIA LAMZDŽIAI” (May 23-25)

This is an event for the best folk ensembles and traditional instrument musicians. They are joined by foreign folk ensembles. During the festival, a folk dance marathon, get-together parties, and dance classes for everyone willing will take place. Theme concerts are organized. Festival takes part in Communications History Museum (Rotušės sq.19).

FESTIVAL “ŠYPSOS LĖLĖS IR VAIKAI” (Smiling Puppets and Children)

(May 22-26)

Performances by Lithuania and foreign puppeteers and students, exhibitions, different campaigns, and puppet and mask parade, which is well established and expected by the citizens, in the central street. May 24 – 27, Kaunas Puppet Theatre (Laisvės ave. 87a).

STATEHOOD DAY (Crowing Of Lithuania King Mindaugas)

(July 6)

A celebratory commemoration of Statehood day: the first country ant city persons, together with citizens and city guests commemorate the Crowing Day of Lithuaniain Duke Mindaugas. This day established the Lithuanian kingdom in the political spheres of other West European countries. July 6, outside Vytautas the Great War Museum.

V INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL “KAUNAS PHOTO 08”

(May-December)

Exhibitions, photo night, and joint projects – a blend of the archive and modern world bringing the past and present-day world into sharp focus.

Kaunas museums, galleries, Žaliakalnis funicular railway, open-air sites.

43th INTERNATIONAL DANCE SPORT CEMPETITION “GINTARINĖ PORA 2008”

(May 3-4)

Lithuanians are really great dancers! And all the world is aware of that.

Kaunas Sports Hall (Perkūno ave. 5).

NATIONAL BRASS BAND FESTIVAL “LET`S PIPE TO KAUNAS” (May 20)

Panpipes, straws, reed-pipes, horns,… Playing wind instruments is deeply embedded in the minds of Lithuanias. No wonder that we blow when we get into bands.

City squares.

KAUNAS SONG CONTEST (June 7)

Songs accompany us from the cradle to our grave. It is fun singing alone but singing in hundreds is a hundred times grearte fun. Kaunas song valley.

HANSA KAUNAS 2008 (August 23-24)

All this did happen: the Midlle Ages, the knights, and Hansa markets in Kaunas. Kaunas downtown.