The Vilnius Pink Soup Fest is a festival designed specifically to celebrate Lithuania’s iconic summertime delicacy – cold pink soup made with beets, and takes place in Vilnius on June.
During the festival, visitors enjoy the world’s top cold soup and its numerous renditions, slide down into a giant artificial soup bowl, and partake in a variety of other pink-themed activities, announced Go Vilnius, the city’s tourism and business development agency.
The vibrant Vilnius Pink Soup Fest returns to the city for the second time to celebrate the country’s iconic cold pink soup šaltibarščiai. Last year’s event drew a crowd of 15,000 eager to indulge in pink-coloured delicacies, soup-themed activities, and other gastronomical experiences.
Just in time for the festival, the Lithuanian pink soup was voted the best cold soup in the world by Taste Atlas (https://www.tasteatlas.com). The Lithuanian summertime delicacy triumphed over renowned contenders from other countries, including the Spanish gazpacho and porra antequerana, or the Bulgarian tarator.
Set up in Tymo Market, next to the self-proclaimed Republic of Užupis, the 2024 edition of the Vilnius Pink Soup Fest officially kick-starts the summer season in the city. With over 100 partners, including restaurants, cafes, pubs, nightclubs, guides, businesses, performers, and various communities, attendees can expect a wide selection of šaltibarščiai-inspired delicacies, drinks, and souvenirs.
Once again, the festival revolves around all things pink, entertaining the visitors with the chance to go restaurant-hopping and sampling unique renditions of the soup and sliding into a giant faux soup bowl down Bastion Hill. The visitors are encouraged to upgrade their wardrobes with pink accents to fully embrace the spirit of šaltibarčiai – even a best-costume contest will take place.
Gastronomical experiences aside, the Vilnius Pink Soup Fest will offer a diverse lineup of other activities like creative workshops and live musical performances. Since the festival is family-friendly, dedicated spaces will cater to children and adolescents.
A feature for one and all is a letter-writing event, in which participants are encouraged to promote Vilnius and revitalize forgotten places by writing pink letters answering the question “Why I love Vilnius”, inspiring others to see Vilnius with new eyes and to love more of its faces. An educational experience is a game called “Atliekų krepšinis” (Garbage Basketball), to learn about waste sorting: how to disposte of leftovers, plastic packaging, eggshells.
Photo opportunities abound at the Pink Soup Fest, with a pink cow in a pink boat floating on a pond, beds decorated with pink bedding near Vilnius Town Hall. Another creative and unusual event will be a bridge made of people, which artist Monika Dirsytė will cross. It symbolizes the connection between people and their cultural heritage, and the connections between different generations.
