In the first days of April, the Oak Grove of Lithuania’s national revival turns 35 years old. In May, the Jonas Basanavičius Birthplace department of the National Museum of Lithuania is organising a nature and culture festival to commemorate the occasion and announces the programme of the upcoming event. The free one-day event will include concerts, discussions, fun educational activities for the children, an outdoor exhibition on bees and the presentation of an interactive oak woodland route as well as the opportunity to see the new documentary “Ožkabalių ąžuolynas” and to talk to its authors. 

The birthday of the National Revival Oak Grove will be celebrated on 18 May, the Night of Museums, from 1 pm to 11 pm. During the event, guests will be invited to immerse themselves in a celebration of nature and culture in Ožkabaliai. 

A rich programme of events 

The one-day festival will offer a wide range of activities for both adults and families with children. 

Music will be played amid nature. Guests will be treated to musical performances by the Kybartai Culture Centre Brass Band “Kybartai” and Jonas Chockevičius, and an emotional concert “Viskas ir nieko” by the kanklės player and vocalist Jausmė. In the evening, the courtyard of the homestead will be enveloped in mystical folktronica sounds, where two different worlds of music will meet – the musical project “Dram bam burtai” will be presented by the violinist Edita Gumauskaitė, a performer of traditional music, and the composer, producer, member of the band “Happyendless” Marius Narbutis, a representative of electronic music. 

The educators of Jonas Basanavičius Birthplace will invite guests to a guided tour of the Lithuanian National Revival Oak Grove, during which they will present an interactive route. The route of the Gilinuks’ houses should especially appeal to the youngest visitors of the Oak Grove. Sun-seekers will be able to join the excursion during the day, while mysticism lovers will be able to take a walk through the Oak Grove after dark. Those who want to learn more about the preservation of the Oak Grove will be able to take part in a discussion on “The future of the Revival Oak Grove and the preservation of oak trees in Lithuania”. Guests will also enjoy the presentation of the new outdoor exhibition “From the Hive” in the Basanavičiai Garden. 

After learning about the history and beauty of the Oak Grove, guests will be invited to enjoy refreshments and a shared picnic. A tasting of acorn coffee made in the birthplace of Jonas Basanavičius will be offered to all those who want to enjoy themselves. 

Young festival participants will enjoy a board game tournament in the “Talking Oaks” game room. Curious people will not only have fun competing, but will also be able to learn about the fauna and flora of the Oak Grove of Lithuania’s national revival, think about the relationship between man and the forest, and about climate change affecting the forest ecosystem. 

The new documentary film “Ožkabalių ąžuolynas” 

Festival guests will have an exclusive opportunity to see on the 11th of March the new documentary film “Ožkabalių ąžuolynas” (directed by Rimantas Oičenka, Audrius Antanavičius), presented at the “Skalvija” cinema centre and meet the creators. Watching the film, you will be able to feel the power of unity that brought people from all over Lithuania together in 1989, through wind and snow, to plant an oak grove of incredible size (more than 7000 trees symbolising freedom) a symbol – the Oak Grove of Lithuanian national revival. Currently, the film “Ožkabalių ąžuolynas” can only be seen in the birthplace of Jonas Basanavičius. 

More information regarding the event will be posted on the National Museum of Lithuania’s page (lnm.lt/en/) and on the Facebook and Instagram pages of Jonas Basanavičius’ birthplace.