Setting Sail for Summer 2025 – Summer Season Opening in Klaipėda!
An impressive 7-event marathon from May 16–18.
Let’s celebrate summer with the maritime culture awards “Albatross”, the hoisting of sails on Klaipėda’s iconic “Meridianas” ship, the returning “Fish Days” festival, the spectacular “Parade of Ships”, the 18th annual “Run for Hope”, Street Music Day, and an enriching “Night of Museums”.
WHERE: Klaipėda – riverfronts, city streets, cultural venues, Cruise Ship Terminal, Meridianas Square, Smiltynė.
ORGANIZERS: Žvejų rūmai Cultural Centre, Museum of the History of Lithuania Minor, Klaipėdos publika, St. Francis City of Hope
FRIDAY
12:00 MARKET for the SEA, MUSIC and FLAVORS
Organizer: Žvejų rūmai Cultural Centre
Danė Square, Karlskrona Square, Žvejų Street
12:00–17:00 ETHNO ACTIVITIES & MARITIME HERITAGE
Old fishing crafts, educational activities about the Baltic Sea and regional heritage, COOL BLUE FUTURE tastings, traditional Curonian Lagoon fishing.
Participants: “Etnopramogos”, Klaipėda Science and Technology Park, fisherman Karolis Tamulis, Klaipėda Sea Cadet School
Theatre Square
13:00 MARITIME CULTURE AWARDS “ALBATROSS”
Performers: Lithuanian Navy Band, soloists from Klaipėda Stasys Šimkus Conservatory
*12:00 – free ferry for participants from Northern Pier to Smiltynė
*12:15 – procession from Smiltynė ferry terminal to the “Albatross” monument, accompanied by Klaipėda Jazz Orchestra
At the “Albatross” Monument in Smiltynė (dedicated to lost sailors and ships)
14:00 DANĖ SQUARE STAGE
14:00 – Music selection by Egismusic
17:00 – Musical act by Theatre “Be durų”: “Wandering group RAMENTO”
18:00 – Concert by the music project “Ciraza”
14:00 “SPRING BLOOM” – PLANT CELEBRATION EVENT
Klaipėda University Botanical Garden, Kretingos g. 92
14:30 DZŪKIJA-STYLE SEAL NAMING CEREMONY
Baltic Sea Animal Rehabilitation Center, Smiltynės g. 2
17:00–18:30 ETHNO MUSIC
Performers: Traditional music ensemble “Senoliai”, and folk band “Šešios bačkos” from Gargždai
Theatre Square
19:00 CEREMONIAL HOISTING OF THE “MERIDIANAS” SAILS
New sails dedicated to the 420th anniversary of Simon Dach’s birth
Participants: Klaipėda Ballet School, singer Gintautas Litinskas, Sea Cadet School, Association of Sea Captains, VILNIUS TECH Maritime Academy
At the “Meridianas” sailing ship
20:00 “MERIDIANAS” CONCERT PROGRAM
Performers: Dainotas Varnas, band “Saulės kliošas”
At the “Meridianas”
20:00 NIGHT DANCING
Performer: Folk band “Gatunkas”
Theatre Square
SATURDAY
10:00 MARKET for the SEA, MUSIC and FLAVORS
Danė Square, Karlskrona Square, Žvejų and Teatro streets
12:00–16:00 FISH DAYS: “KLAIPĖDA GRILLS – SKEWER BATTLES”
Host: Grill expert Vylius Blauzdavičius
Danė Square
10:00–22:30 SHIP PARADE – FESTIVAL MARKET & OUTDOOR CAFÉS
Cruise Ship Terminal
11:00–16:00 SHIP PARADE – KLAIPĖDA ROWING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Danė River – Canoeing and kayaking races
12:00–16:00 SHIP PARADE – CHILDREN’S WORKSHOPS & MARITIME SPORTS
Military gear and weapon exhibitions
Cruise Ship Terminal
12:00–22:00 STREET MUSIC DAY
Various city squares and public spaces
More info: www.gmd.lt
14:00 OPENING OF THE SCULPTURE “KLAIPĖDA BASTION FORTRESS”
Castle Site parking area (Pilies g. 2A)
14:00–19:00 CINEMA IN THE WIND – HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARIES
Cruise Ship Terminal
16:00–20:00 DANĖ SQUARE CONCERT PROGRAM
16:30 – Junior City Jazz & Klaipėda State Musical Theatre children’s opera studio
17:30 – Concert by Dovi Mi
18:30 – Concert by “Antikvariniai Kašpirovskio dantys”
Danė Square
21:00–22:30 SHIP PARADE
21:00 – Port tugboat show
21:20 – Harbor pilot boats greet spectators
21:30 – Illuminated ship parade
22:30 – Lights and music show
Curonian Lagoon
17:00–22:00 NIGHT OF MUSEUMS IN KLAIPĖDA
LNDM Clock Museum (Liepų g.12):
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18:00–19:00: Exhibition presentation “Old Masters from Ukraine”
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19:00–20:00: Ukrainian music concert by “Rodyna” centre performers
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18:00–22:00: Exhibition “When Clocks Speak…”
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18:00–22:00: Educational program “Time and Games” in museum park
Museum of the History of Lithuania Minor (Didžioji Vandens g. 2):
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Event “Between Earth and Sky – In Memory of Čiurlionis and East Prussia”
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18:00–21:30: Workshops & installations, exhibition “Warnings”
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22:00: Opening of “In the Spaces of Time” – exhibition marking 500 years of the Duchy of Prussia
LNDM Pranas Domšaitis Gallery (Liepų g. 33):
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17:00–19:00: Workshop “Portraits from a Gaze”
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17:00: Exhibition tour “Sunny Art for You”
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17:00 & 19:00: Tours of permanent exhibition “Always on the Road”
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18:00: Tour “Antanas Gudaitis. Compositions”
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20:00: Tour of “Blood Stone”
Klaipėda Drama Theatre (Teatro g. 2):
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21:30: Spooky Storytelling Night
Led by Klaipėda Drama Theatre actors, registration required: [Google Form link]
Maritime Museum Ship M52 “Sūduvis” (Royal Danė Riverbank):
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20:00: Theatrical performance “Sea Saga Written in Waves”
Klaipėda Youth Theatre actors bring the ship’s history and stories to life
SUNDAY
09:00–16:00 MARKET for the SEA, MUSIC and FLAVORS
Danė Square, Karlskrona Square, Žvejų and Teatro streets
Organizer: Žvejų rūmai Cultural Centre
RUN FOR HOPE
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09:00 – Full Marathon (42.195 km) – “STEMMA GROUP” route
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09:00 – Half Marathon (21.098 km) – “SĄSKAITA123.lt” route
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09:00 – Team Relay (8 × 5.3 km) – “SIMONAS DACHAS” route
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10:00 – 10 km Championship – “AROS MARINE” route
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10:15 – 0.2 km Little Ones’ Run – “AKROPOLIS” route
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11:30 – 1.35 km Student Hope Run – “KLAIPĖDA LYCEUM” route
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12:30 – 1.35 km Solidarity Run – “LORNA” route
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13:00 – 5.00 km Wellness Run – “BIOFARMACIJA” route
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13:15 – 0.35 km Sprint – “VAKARŲ EKSPRESAS – 35”
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13:30 – 2.9 km Good Hope Run – “AUDI” route
Team and volunteer registration: viltiesbegimas@gmail.com