The wonder of Christmas is coming to Vilnius dispelling anxious thoughts and infusing a festive mood and impatience to share this happy disposition with the closest family members. Thus, having rushed into buoyant streets, stop for a while at a Christmas tree and admire Vilnius Old Town intertwined with decorations; call at the Christmas town to taste traditional Lithuanian Christmas treats and hot wine; look around, and maybe you will see a Santa Claus, the Three Kings or elves flashing by in a train. Do not miss the opportunity to listen to an echo of Christmas carols in Vilnius churches.

Christmas in Vilnius wishes you the very snowy moments! 

CHRISTMAS EVENTS IN VILNIUS

Christmas Train

from 2011-12-10 to 2012-01-07

Venue:  Vilnius Old Town

Cosy heated Christmas train driven by elves will shuttle children and their parents as well as city guests on the route City Hall – Cathedral Square – Gediminas avenue.

Christmas Market of Things

from 2011-12-17 to 2011-12-18
Venue:
 
Daiktų Viešbutis
T. Ševčenkos St. 16A
Ph. +370 686 49743
www.daiktuviesbutis.lt

Right before Christmas, the snow covered, yet not frozen Daiktų Viešbutis (The Hotel of Things) in the snow covered Ševčenkos Street will be decorated for the festive season and will invite to a Christmas market of things. 40 most original artists are to participate in the event: illustrators as well as fashion, things and food designers. For two joyful days of holiday anticipation you will have the opportunity to meet the makers of the things and purchase various gifts from them!

Christmas Crib and Celebrations of Its Concecration

 2011-12-24 | Event starts: 22:00

Venue: Cathedral Square

The crib regards as the symbol of Christmas. It reminds us the values, celebrated by this holiday – the family, the love to your neighbor, compassion, unity, hope, and the gift of the new beginning. We invite you to celebrate these values together, attending the ceremony of consecration of the Crib at the Vilnius’ Cathedral Square.

Lighting up Vilnius TV Tower Tree

 2011-12-25 | Event starts: 18:00

Venue
TV Tower
Sausio 13-osios St. 10
Ph. +370 5 252 5333
www.lrtc.lt

As every year, on the 25th of December, at 6 pm, the biggest Christmas tree in the whole Europe will be illuminated – Vilnius TV Tower Tree. The Tower will be surrounded by 32 garlands totalling to 6 km. The whole number of lights will amount to 6 thousand while the number of the powerful flashlights constitutes 400 units. The beginning of the lighting up ceremony will be marked by the festive fireworks. For the first time the TV Tower Tree was lighted in 2000 and since then it has become an inseparable part of Christmas in Vilnius tradition.

4D Projection "Miraculous Christmas"

 from 2011-12-25 to 2011-12-30

Venue: Cathedral Square

From the 25th to 30th of December at the Cathedral square, during the dark period (5 pm, 6.20 pm and 8 pm) everyone will be able to watch a unique visualisation in 4D projection – "Miraculous Christmas", which will be shown for the first time in Eastern Europe. The locals and city guests will be able to watch the Christmas fairy-tale, which by up-to-date technologies will be projected upon the largest wall of the Cathedral Basilica turning it into a giant screen. In the fairy-tale the fragments from Vilnius’ history will be overlapping with folklore, religious and modern motives. The three-dimensional sight will be enhanced by the special effects, filling up the 4D projection, and the festive Cathedral square would feel and smell like Christmas by such specially designed effects.
     

Christmas Town

from 2011-12-25 to 2012-01-01

Venue: Town Hall Square

From the 25th of December to the 1st of January, at the square everyone can visit little Christmas town selling delicacies of the Season and hot wine. This year for the first time at the Town Hall square Christmas celebration is going to take place under the roof.

The Christmas Race

 2011-12-26 | Event starts: 12:00

Christmas Race will be organized for the 36th time already.
The first race was held in 1975 in order all the enthusiasts could celebrate the New Years among the affinities, and 77 runners took part in the race. The idea of the race has not changed since. Hundreds of enthusiasts gather together for the last time in the passing year to greet their friends and affinities and some – hungry for game – to compete.

More information: www.maratonas.lt

New Year’s Eve

 2011-12-31 | Event starts: 23:30

Venue: Cathedral Square

On New Year’s Eve, on the 31st of December, all the locals and guests are welcome to come to the Cathedral square for the festive fireworks.

Three Kings Procession

 2012-01-06 | Event starts: 16:00

Festive Christmas’ events in Vilnius traditionally are finished with the traditional parade from The Gates of Dawn through Vilnius old town. The figures of the Three Kings, following the Star, become the centre of the parade, which ends at the Cathedral Square with the traditional performance, depicting the visit the Three Kings paid to the Jesus Child. The parade and performance are especially loved by the youngest citizens of Vilnius.

Three Kings Procession starts from the Gates of Dawn and ends at the Cathedral Square.

More information: www.senamiescioteatras.lt

Christmas Tree, adieu!

 2012-01-06

Venue
 
Courtyard of Vilnius Teachers‘ House
Vilniaus St. 39
Ph. +370 620 85689
www.kultura.lt

On the Twelfth Day, January 6th, Vilnius Teachers’ House usually invites the families to the Event "Christmas Tree, adieu!" Citizens of Vilnius City are encouraged to take care of the trees and to bring them to the yard of Teachers’ House, where they, based on the story, are taken back to the forest while the music is accompanying the journey.

The Event "Christmas Tree, adieu!", being held almost two decades by the Vilnius Teachers’ House is an integral part of the conclusion of the Christmas uproar in Vilnius City. It became the tradition that the Seasonal Events are finalized by making adieu with the Christmas trees for citizens of Vilnius. The tradition will be kept this year as well.