Lithuania’s School Song Celebration begins in Vilnius on Friday with a record 24,000-plus participants, making it the largest edition since the country regained independence, organisers said.
The four-day event, held once every decade, will bring together school choirs, dance groups and orchestras from across Lithuania. It will open with a procession along Gedimino Avenue and conclude Sunday, Statehood Day commemorating the coronation of King Mindaugas, with the traditional Song Day concert at Vingio Park.
Organisers said this year’s festival introduces several firsts, including new crowd management measures and expanded security planning.
Attendance at the closing concert in Vingio Park will be capped at 30,000 spectators. Even though admission is free, visitors must register in advance through the ticketing system and obtain a zero-value ticket.
“People need to register in the ticketing system and receive a free ticket, either in the mobile app or printed out,” School Song Celebration Director Dainius Numgaudis said. “This is being done for security reasons and so we can manage visitor flows.”
