When the meadows whisper secrets, the reflection of the moon shimmers in the water, and the fire dances a mysterious dance, the magic of Midsummer night comes to life…
Will you dare to enter into the mysterious Midsummer night at the Open Air Museum of Lithuania? Mark the date: on June 23, at 7:00 PM, we will be waiting for you at the Open Air Museum of Lithuania, in Rumšiškės.
What will we do?
o We will sing, gather herbs and explore their power
o We will greet all Jonas and Janina on the occasion of their name-day
o We will accompany the sun, and at night we will meet with water and fire – we will float flower crowns, roll burning wheels down the mountain, light hubs and the great Midsummer bonfire
o The bravest will dance through the flames to attract luck and health
o We will search for the mysterious fern flower…
And when night falls in a mysterious space, the Midsummer Soundscapes will take place – a concert where creators of experimental, atmospheric electronic music inspired by folklore will be performed surrounded by laser lights…
We will celebrate until dawn, until the sun rises and the mystery sinks into silence again…
The program of the event:
7:00 PM–10:00 PM
Festive gates, wreath weaving, herb gathering (kupoliavimas), fortune-telling, storytelling about herbs, games and circle dances with the Rumšiškės Cultural Centre folklore ensemble Nedėja, the Kupiškis Cultural Centre’s children and youth folklore ensemble Jaunimo Ramuva, the Griškabūdis branch’s children and youth folklore ensemble Užnovietis, and the Kaunas Centre for Ethnic Culture folklore ensemble Ratilėlis
(on the hill in the Dzūkija village)
9:00 PM–9:30 PM
Greeting of all Jonai, Jonės, and Janinos (those celebrating the midsummer name day) and festive treats
(Dzūkija village)
7:00 PM–12:00 PM
Village youth games, tales and stories, hide-and-seek in the dark
(Rudamina Homestead, Dzūkija)
10:30 PM–10:50 PM
Lighting of the altar fire, sunset farewell, and procession to the great bonfire
(on the hill in the Dzūkija village)
10:50 PM–11:00 PM
Rolling of flaming wheels down the hill, lighting of the wagon hub fires and the great bonfire
(Barn Theatre Valley)
11:00 PM–12:00 AM
Night dancing with the instrumental folk group Vydraga and the Vytautas Magnus University folk dance ensemble Žilvitis
(Barn Theater Valley)
10:00 PM–11:00 PM
Midsummer Soundscapes: Tamsaulė with Donis
(stage near the Barn Theatre)
11:30 PM–12:30 AM
Midsummer Soundscapes: Viktoras Diawara with Laurita Peleniūtė
(stage near the Barn Theatre)
12:30 AM–01:00 AM
Wreath floating, search for the mythical fern blossom
(by the Praviena stream and Rudamina Homestead)
12:30 AM–02:30 AM
Midsummer Soundscapes: DJ Saga
(stage near the Barn Theatre)
02:30 AM–04:20 AM
Conversations by the fire
(Barn Theatre Valley)
04:20 AM–05:00 AM
Welcoming the sunrise
Photography and filming will be taken at the event, and the video material will be used for the museum’s publicity.
