Joninės / Rasos (Midsummer) in Vilnius
About
On the shortest night of the year, Vilnius marks Lithuania's pagan-rooted Midsummer with bonfires, flower wreaths floated on the river and a dawn walk through the dew. The most traditional gathering is the Rasos celebration on Verkiai's high hill, held there since 1999.
Highlights
- Bonfires, folk songs and round dances through the bright midsummer twilight
- Herb wreaths woven and floated downriver for luck
- Rasos rites at Verkiai's high hill near Lizdeika's altar
Practical tips
- 24 June is a public holiday, so many shops and offices close
- Bring a jacket and insect repellent for a night by the river
- Stay up for sunrise to wash in the morning dew, a Rasos tradition
Where it is
Map pins
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Other upcoming events
Christopher Summer Festival (Kristupo festivalis)
Lithuania's big crossover summer music festival turns Vilnius churches, courtyards and parks into concert halls for two months, mixing classical with jazz, world music and contemporary sounds. The 2027 edition runs under the theme \"Beacons\".
Date TBCCulture Night (Kultūros naktis)
For one warm June night the whole city turns into a free open-air stage, with concerts, installations and pop-up performances in courtyards, churches and rooftops across Vilnius.
Date TBCVilnius Festival (Classical Music)
The Lithuanian National Philharmonic's flagship summer festival brings world-class soloists, ensembles and orchestras to Vilnius across three weeks of June.