This year, the National Museum of Lithuania (LNM) is celebrating its 170th anniversary and inviting the public to get to know all 12 of its branches better. In August, the spotlight turns to Palanga – to the Jonas Šliūpas Museum, located at Vytauto St. 23A, once home to the city’s first burgomaster. Visitors are invited to join guided tours, creative workshops, and summery gatherings filled with stories, scents, flavors, and discoveries. They can also collect a special stamp from the Jonas Šliūpas Museum for the LNM 170 anniversary game-journey. Those who complete the journey by visiting all 12 museum branches will win prizes.

Events: Tastings, Art, and Stories

August 7 at 5:00 PM – A discovery afternoon “The Perfume Revolution in 19th-Century Europe and the Marvelous Chemistry Inside a Bottle.” Perfume educator Edita Vigelytė will reveal the evolution of synthetic perfumery, from almond and coumarin to vanillin. The event will include a scent tasting, where visitors can smell various aromas and original perfume compositions.

August 8 at 4:00 PM – A pop-up sketch exhibition and meeting with Medilė Šiaulytė, resident of the LNM “Kūrybatorija” and a costume designer working in Italy.

August 13 at 4:00 PM – A cozy gathering “Coffee, Anyone?” featuring a discussion on the history of coffee and café culture in Lithuania and beyond. The event will be hosted by the curators of the upcoming LNM exhibition on coffee: historians Karolina Glinska, Milda Kvizikevičiūtė, and Milda Kruopienė. Visitors are invited to bring their favorite cup of coffee and join a relaxed conversation about this drink that connects people and eras.

August 14 at 4:00 PM – An afternoon dedicated to the Feast of the Assumption (Žolinė). Ethnologist Gražina Kadžytė and herbalist Danutė Kunčienė, founder of the “Žolinčių akademija” wellness club, will speak about the symbolic meanings of this harvest-time celebration.

August 15 at 5:00 PM – the museum invites visitors to the exhibition “The Joy of Being a Child”, accompanied by poetry by Liudvikas Jakimavičius, Robertas Danys, Vladas Šimkus, and Valdemaras Kukulas, read aloud by actor Rolandas Kazlas.

August 16 at 3:30 PM – Bagel Tasting: Dovilė Rūkaitė, educator and project manager at the Lithuanian Jewish (Litvak) Community, will share the story of bagels – from Krakow to Vilnius and New York.

August 23 at 2:00 PM – A creative workshop “Applying the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI) Accelerator Model,” led by “Kūrybatorija” resident Dr. Jolita Čeičytė-Pranskūnė, associate professor of innovation management at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU). Artists, creators, and cultural sector professionals will explore practical initiatives that merge creativity with economic impact.

For Families with Young Explorers

August 8 and 9 at 3:00 PM – Ethnocultural puppet-making workshops for families with children. LNM toy collection curator Lina Bukauskienė will present traditional Lithuanian toys, while Aušra Petrauskienė, founder of the “Lėlių namai” in Žagarė, will teach how to make a rag doll.

August 12 at 3:00 PM – A collage-making workshop with paper birds and boats led by “Kūrybatorija” resident, creator, and educator Raminta Čeputienė.
August 21 at 3:00 PM – Storytelling and bird-making workshop with “Kūrybatorija” resident Aurelija Čeredaite – an actress, director, and puppeteer.

Throughout the summer, the “Little Kūrybatorija” workshop series invites children aged 6 to 13, teenagers, and their accompanying adults to take part in creative activities designed to spark imagination and self-expression. On August 6, Eglė Kontrimienė-Degutis will lead “Emotional Landscapes”, a workshop where participants will explore the world of emotions through color and form. On August 13, the “Šeiko Šokio teatras” will host a movement and dance workshop tailored for children aged 9 to 11, encouraging expression through body and rhythm. Finally, on August 20, artist Agnė Jonkutė will guide participants in creating portrait collages during the workshop “Sticky Portraits”.

Young visitors can also try the “Detectives of the Past” scavenger hunt, using a mobile app to uncover childhood stories of Vytautas Šliūpas hidden in the museum courtyard. Narrated stories and fun tasks introduce interwar Palanga through playful exploration.

Historical Walks Around Palanga

The Jonas Šliūpas Museum offers guided tours of the resort town, where visitors can learn more about Palanga’s history. The tour “Jonas Šliūpas’ Footprints in Palanga” led by historian Mindaugas Surblys takes visitors to cultural heritage sites and shares stories of the town’s development from Šliūpas’ perspective.

For independent explorers, two interactive app-based tours are available:

“Walks Through Šliūpas’ Palanga” – explore the town through the personality of J. Šliūpas.

“Palanga Through Paulina’s Lens” – follow in the footsteps of Paulina Mongirdaitė, the first woman photographer in Lithuania, and discover Palanga through the atmosphere of her photos.

Photo Exhibition and the Šliūpas Lab

Those who want to revisit childhood joy are invited to the exhibition “The Joy of Being a Child”, featuring photographs by Rimaldas Vikšraitis and ethnographic toys from the LNM collections. It’s an invitation to view the world through a child’s eyes – with wonder, curiosity, and creative freedom.

The museum also hosts the Šliūpas Laboratory – an experimental space where visitors are encouraged to contribute to the creation of the future exhibition. Visitors are invited to share ideas, memories, and insights, helping to shape the story of J. Šliūpas: editor, writer, translator, physician, educator, diplomat, and burgomaster.

The Jonas Šliūpas Museum, a branch of the National Museum of Lithuania, is open Wednesday to Friday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Saturday from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Sunday from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. For inquiries or to book museum services, please email [email protected] or call +370 612 86114. More information is available at lnm.lt.