On Thursday, July 9, a private event will take place at the museum near the mill. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause to our visitors.

June 28th 12:00 PM

Museum’s Dzūkija village

On Sunday, June 28th, we invite you to visit the Lithuanian Tatars exposition (in the museum’s Dzūkija village) and participate in an educational program dedicated to learning about the culture, traditions and culinary heritage of the Lithuanian Tatars.

The program includes:

• Culinary education – baking traditional Tatar belyashes in an outdoor cauldron
• Making ceremonial pancakes “Džaima” and learning about their symbolic meaning
• Stories about the culinary traditions of the Lithuanian Tatars, their history and survival to this day
• A concert by the Lithuanian Tatar folklore ensemble “Efsane”, presenting an authentic musical program.

Participation fee:

• for adults – 20 Eur,
• for children under 12 years old – 10 Eur

Pre-registration is required by phone: +370 676 00250. The number of participants is limited.

We invite everyone who wants to get acquainted with the culture, customs, crafts and unique culinary heritage of the Lithuanian Tatars!

On June 28, the museum is free to visit.

When the scents of summer herbs, the stillness of water, and the glow of fire merge in the twilight of the year’s shortest night, the ancient magic of St. John’s Day comes alive…

We invite you to join us on June 23 at 7:00 PM at the Open Air Museum of Lithuania and welcome together the most mysterious night of summer.

We will gather and bless herbs, listen to their whispered stories, honour those named Jonas and Janina, weave flower wreaths and set them afloat on the water, and build the great Midsummer bonfire. The bravest participants will have the chance to leap over the flames, wishing themselves good fortune, health, and strength. And somewhere between the water, the fire, and the silence of the night, there will still await that which is sought anew each year – the legendary fern blossom.

We will celebrate until dawn, accompanying the sun into the night and welcoming together the first light of the morning.

PROGRAMME

Event location: Dzūkija Sector and the surroundings of the Barn Theatre (Klojimo Theatre).

19:00–22:00 Festive gates, wreath-making, gathering herbs (kupoliavimas), Midsummer fortune-telling, stories about medicinal plants, competitions, games, and circle dances with the Rumšiškės Cultural Centre folklore ensemble “Nedėja”, the Vytautas Magnus University folklore ensemble “Linago”, the Raudondvaris Cultural Centre (Kaunas District) folklore ensemble “Piliarožė”, and the Kaunas Ethnic Culture Centre folklore ensemble “Ratilėlis” (on the hill in the Dzūkija village).

21:00–21:30 Greeting and refreshments for those named Jonas, Jonė, Janina, and related names (Dzūkija village).

19:00–00:00 Traditional village children’s and youth games, ghost stories, and fairy tales (Rudamina Homestead, Dzūkija).

22:30–22:50 Lighting of the ceremonial altar fire, farewell to the setting sun, and procession to the main bonfire (on the hill in the Dzūkija village).

22:50–23:00 Rolling burning wheels down the hill, lighting of wheel hubs and the main bonfire (Barn Theatre Valley).

23:00–00:30 Night dances with the instrumental folk music group “Krikščiūnų šeimos kapelija” (Barn Theatre Valley).

23:30–01:00 Floating wreaths on the water and searching for the mythical fern blossom (near the Praviena stream and Rudamina Homestead).

00:45–01:45 Concert: Adas and Viltė (Barn Theatre Valley).

02:00–03:00 Concert: Vilko Pupos (Barn Theatre Valley).

03:00–04:20 Conversations around the bonfire (Barn Theatre Valley).

04:20–05:00 Welcoming the sunrise.

The organizers reserve the right to make minor changes to the programme.

On the occasion of the celebration, all indoor museum exhibitions will remain open longer than usual – until 20:00. Indoor exhibitions in the Dzūkija Sector will be open until 23:00.

Please note that photography and filming will take place during the event. The recorded visual material may be used for the museum’s promotional and communication purposes.

We invite you to the Pentecost afternoon – May 24th from 1:00 PM to the Daujėnai homestead, where Pentecost has been celebrated with great joy since ancient times!

The event will be photographed, and the video footage will be used to promote the museum.

Night at the Open air museum of Lithuania – full of life and sound!

May 23, 2026, 6:00 PM
The event is free.

The museum invites you to the European night of Museums event – ​​a cozy, sounding and ancient evening. On May 23, from 6:00 PM, a musical journey will meander through different ethnographic regions.

After dark, we will gather at the Vabalai homestead in Lithuania Minor: quiet conversations over fragrant coffee and an evening movie screening will be held – the film „Vabalų kaimo pelkininkai“ (2024) will be shown.

Join the European Museum Night at the Lithuanian Ethnographic Museum!

PROGRAMME
18:00 (6 PM) – Meeting at Dzūkija sector
18:00–19:00 (6 PM – 7 PM) – Candle making education (Dzūkija Homestead)
19:00–21:00 (7 PM – 9 PM) – Musical excursion: Dzūkija sector yard – Paluobių Homestead (Suvalkija) – mill – Įpilties Homestead (Žemaitija) – Vabałų Homestead (Lithuania Minor)
21:30 (9:30 PM) – Screening of the film “Vabalų kaimo pelkininkai” (2024)* and coffee (Vabałų Homestead in Lithuania Minor).

*Museum of the History of Lithuania Minor film „Vabalų kaimo pelkininkai“ (2024). Film partner: Open air museum of Lithuania and Šilutė Hugo Šojus Museum.

STARTING AT 10 AM

Folk artists, artisans and merchants fair (town square, road to Samogitia)

STARTING AT 11:00 A.M.

SMALL TOWN

• Egg painting (next to the parish barn)
• Information Center (Tabariškės House)
• Traditional egg wax-decorating workshop with folk artist and “Golden Wreath” laureate Jurgita Zenkienė (Tabariškės House, left)
• Hay bird-making workshop (Tabariškės House, left)
• Let’s play music and dance together (Tabariškės House, right)
• Easter card workshop and Laimutė Varkalaitė’s drawing exhibition “Gėliasparniai” (engl. Flower wings) (Pušalotas House)
• Easter Mail – send an Easter greeting; a handwritten message is always warmer! (Post Office)
• Easter paper-cutting workshop (Plungė House)
• Agata Granicka’s exhibition of Easter palm from the Vilnius region (Plungė House)
• Presentation of Easter table treats (Plungė House)
• Festive gingerbread cookies (Bakery)
• The versatile craftsman’s workshop and photo studio (2nd floor) (Žeimelis House)
• “Trade” in an interwar-era store (Žeimelis House)
• Interactive space – B. Šmugelis’ collection of curiosities (Žeimelis House)
• Archaic amber crafts (Špitolė House)
• Weaving craft (Špitolė House)
• Community-contributed Easter egg exhibition. We invite you to bring your own Easter egg for the exhibition by 12:00 PM (town square)
• “ME2U” Easter basketball (town square)
• Jewellery workshops (near the Urmininkas House)
• Coin minting (near the Urmininkas House)

1 PM

• Church drums will call the faithful to Mass at the Museum’s Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Museum Town)

SAMOGITIA

• Special guest at the museum – the Easter Grandmother (Užbradumė Tavern)
• Egg rolling with poles (Gintališkė Farmstead Courtyard)
• “The Pig Goes to the Manor” and other games (Darbėnai Farmstead)
• Egg painting with natural dyes (Įpiltis Farmstead)
• Kite-making workshop (Gondinga Farmstead)
• Horseback riding from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM with a break (Dirgalis Farmstead))

FROM 12 TO 3 PM

• Police officers from the Kaunas County Chief Police Commissariat will invite visitors to learn about police work, examine police vehicles, meet the police mascot Amsius, participate in the “Be Visible” reflector-sticking campaign, and take part in quizzes (near the Gondinga Homestead)
• The Public Health Office of the Kaišiadorys District Municipality will invite visitors to participate in a quiz: “What Do I Know About Health?” (near the Gondinga Homestead)

The Kaišiadorys Cultural Center’s folk ensemble “Žilvita” and the Krakiai Cultural Center’s folk ensemble “Žiedupė” will be waiting for you at the Samogitian farmsteads with lively songs and dances. 

LITHUANIA MINOR

• Easter traditions of the people of Lithuania Minor

NEAR THE WINDMILL

• Gigantic egg rolling competition
• Windmill Workshop

SUVALKIJA

• Egg-eating contest (Obelinė Farmstead)
• Carrying the Easter Bunny through a maze and a cart race, rolling on the spot and rolling toward a target, cart race (Obelinė Farmstead)
• “Living Mountain” – living heritage exhibition: geese, ducks, chickens, turkeys, and rabbits (Obelinė Farmstead)
• Horse-drawn carriage rides from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM with a break (near the Suvalkija Farmstead, by the apiary).

In the courtyard of the Obelinė farmstead, the Kaunas folk ensembles “Žaisa” and “Alda” will entertain visitors with lively songs and dances.

STARTING AT 3 PM       

SMALL TOWN

The closing part of the festival takes place in the town square. A drawing to select the winners of the decorated egg exhibition and the awarding of prizes to the three lucky winners. Fun dances and games with the Krakių Cultural Center’s folk ensemble “Žiedupė.”

Tables decorated for Easter will be set up at these farmsteads: Samogitia – Gintališkė and Darbėnai farmsteads, Suvalkija – Obelinė farmstead, Dzūkija – Rudamina farmstead and Aukštaitija – Kirdeikiai and Gyvakarai farmsteads.

 We invite you to visit the following exhibitions:

• Algirdas Kupčikas’ Easter egg exhibition “Ornaments and Symbols in Easter Egg Designs” (Exhibition Hall at the Main Entrance, 2nd floor)
• Rasa Žumbakienė’s exhibition “Traditional Palm Branches” (at the Museum’s Church)
• Laimutė Varkalaitė’s exhibition of drawings “Gėliasparniai” (engl. Flower wings) (Pušalotas House)
• Agata Granicka’s exhibition of palm branches from the Vilnius region (Plungė House)

Event ticket price:

Adults – 12 Eur

Students and seniors – 6 Eur

Get tickets online

The event organizers reserve the right to make minor changes to the event program.

The event will be photographed, filmed, and published in accordance with applicable laws. The event organizer is not responsible for the photographing or filming of individuals or the distribution of any resulting photos or video footage.

Drones may only be used with the organizer’s permission.

Pets are allowed at the event, but you must comply with all animal care and walking rules set forth in the laws of the Republic of Lithuania: walk your dog only on a leash; if a muzzle is required for your dog’s breed, it must be worn. You are also required to clean up after your dog and ensure that your dog does not pose a threat or cause discomfort (e.g., by jumping or lunging) to other event participants.

Do you remember Easter in the village – when the yard smelled of spring in the rays of the festive morning frost, and the little ones secretly looked for Easter gifts? When the table was covered with a white tablecloth, and eggs – colored or wax-printed – proudly decorated the table and each egg became a meaning of the holiday? How deliciously the festive meals prepared by grandmothers smelled, and the family joyfully gathered together, missing each other?

We invite you to revive such a festive mood, memories and traditions at the Open Air Museum of Lithuania on April 6, the second day of Easter, 12 a.m.!

What awaits you?

• 12:00 pm. Church drums will announce the beginning of the Holy Easter Mass in the Museum of St. At the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary
• A bustling fair of folk artists, craftsmen and traders – maybe you will find a piece or a gift you like?
• Easter “basketball” – test your aiming skills
• Carp and card workshops – create an exclusive paper decoration
• Presentation of traditional Easter table dishes – learn more about traditional Easter dishes
• Egg printing with natural dyes (onion peels, herbs) – try out the colors of nature and different techniques
• Egg painting – color your own egg
• Egg-carrying exhibition – don’t forget to bring your own egg, maybe it will become a winner?
• Sounding courtyards – we will sing, dance and play together with folklore ensembles
• Rolling of the “cosmic” egg – who will be the winner?
• Windmill and kite workshops – to catch the spring winds!
• Egg eating competition – who comes first?
• “Pig to the manor” and other games: a cart relay race, carrying the Easter bunny through the found one – who is the fastest and most agile?
• The owner of the “Living Mountain” with his farm animals – will you recognize all the pets?
• The museum guest – the Easter Granny – will be waiting for children with a basket full of gifts

Inviting Easter exhibitions:

Algirdas Kupčikas’ exhibition of Easter decorated Easter eggs (exhibition hall of the reception gate, 2nd floor)

Laimutė Varkalaitė’s exhibition of sweets “Gėliasparniai” (Bookstore)

Agata Granicka’s exhibition of Vilnius region verbs (Plungės house)

We are waiting for you at the spring-like museum!

Detailed program coming soon!

On February the 14th, the day of love, the bride and groom will be the leading characters of this year‘s Mardi Gras festival at the Open Air Museum of Lithuania!

We traditionally start the year with the biggest event of the calendar cycle – Užgavėnės (cf. Mardi Gras, Carnival, and other Shrovetide celebrations), which this year celebrates its forty-fifth anniversary!

With fun and entertaining activities, Užgavėnės will invite you to disguise yourself in masks and costumes, roll in the snow, make pancakes over an open flame, sing and dance, engage in impromptu wedding and other improvisations. This holiday reminds us: while we are preparing the earth for a new cycle of life, let us wake up for it ourselves!

Come on, don’t be shy – maybe you’ll find your soulmate in this whirlwind of fun, or even discover the perfect time and place to get engaged?