XVI Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival

Announcement on the website www.sokiusvente2020.org

Yes, it is happening! Organizers are excited to announce that planning is moving forward for the re-scheduled XVI Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival weekend, July 1 – 3, 2022, in Philadelphia, PA. Health officials and other experts have predicted that the COVID-19 pandemic will improve significantly by sometime next year. The full approval of vaccines, vaccine authorization for children and boosters should all lead to a normalization of life in early 2022. To ensure the health and safety of our dancers, attendees, sponsors, and hosting partners we will be following COVID-19 guidance for indoor theater and music venues at the time of our event next summer.

The 16th Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival will be in Philadelphia, PA during the July 1-3rd, 2022 weekend. The excitement of this festival in conjunction with the city’s historic events will culminate with a colorful and dynamic show featuring some 2,000 dancers creating a magical symphony of Lithuanian folk dance, costume design and historic culture storytelling. Nearly 10,000 people from around the world are expected to gather for the Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival in historic Philadelphia – explore and share in this experience!

The XVI Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival takes its inspiration from the Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis’ 1909 painting, The Tale of Kings. The logo was created by designer Deimantė Kalinauskaitė from Lithuania, who currently resides in Atlanta. The festival logo embraces the many elements of the festival’s significance; the M.K. Čiurlionis kings’ crown, folk dancers, the three colors of the Lithuanian flag, and a bell, a symbol of freedom not only in Philadelphia in its struggle against oppression, but is also found in Čiurlionis’ work. The bell has been incorporated in several of M.K. Ciurlionis’ paintings, as well as his musical compositions. In his painting The Sonata of the Sun’s Finale, the nation’s tireless and hopeful pursuit of freedom is symbolized. This brief explantion of our modern 21st century logo, reflects a committed, modern and growing European nation and her children!

Hotel block reservations are open to the public starting October 23, 2021. Dance group registration is in progress, from October 10, 2021 through November 10, 2021. All participating groups must register again by contacting Tadas Varaneckas at [email protected].

Tickets  for  the XVI Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival Performance purchased for the original date (Sunday, July 5, 2020) performance at Temple University Liacouras Center will remain valid and will be honored for entrance to the July 3, 2022 performance at the same Center. Ticket sales continue and can be purchased by calling the box office at 1-800-298-4200 or online at: https://liacourascenter.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetEventList?­groupCode=­FOLK&linkID=global-temple.

Ticket refunds will only be issued upon request until December 1, 2021.  Patrons who paid with cash and would like a refund will need to go to the Liacouras box office with their tickets for refund. Note that ticket delivery fees are non-refundable. For ticket refunds please call 1-800-298-4200.

Banquet tickets purchased for the Sunday, July 5, 2020 Gala Banquet and Youth & Family Banquet will be honored for the banquets that will be now held on Sunday, July 3, 2022. New banquet ticket sale orders will begin on November 22, 2021.

Folk Dance Festival sponsors are the American Lithuanian Community, Lithuanian 

Folk Dance Institute, and Lithuanian Canadian Community.

See you there!

www.sokiusvente2020.org