‘Picnic Among the Lilacs’ Invites Visitors to a Weekend of Music, Nature, and Discovery

On 16–17 May, Vilnius University (VU) Botanical Garden invites the University community, as well as city residents and guests, to the fourth annual ‘Picnic Among the Lilacs’ festival. This year’s event is dedicated to the 245th anniversary of the Botanical Garden and International Fascination of Plants Day.

Over the course of two days, visitors will enjoy a rich musical, educational, and cultural programme featuring concerts, guided tours, lectures, creative workshops, family activities, and meetings with researchers and creators inspired by the natural world. On Lilac Hill – home to 17 species and 196 varieties of lilacs currently in bloom – visitors will also find a fair bringing together artisans, herbalists, culinary creators, and artists.

The event stage will host performances by VU artistic groups and musicians: the VU Jazz Voices choir, the Oktava wind orchestra, the Song and Dance Ensemble, and alternative music artists Lina Sakutė and Milda Arčikauskaitė. The programme will also feature lectures on the history of VU Botanical Garden, as well as plants, their diversity, and practical uses.

Both children and adults will be invited to take part in educational activities, orientation games, guided tours, plant discovery sessions, and creative workshops.

Admission to the daytime events is included with a regular VU Botanical Garden visitor ticket.

Event location: VU Botanical Garden, Kairėnų g. 43, Vilnius.

Programme at a Glance

Saturday, 16 May | 10:00–20:00

On the Lilac Hill Stage

13:00 – Dainų sodai, the women’s choir of the Pavilnys community

16:00 – VU Jazz Voices and the VU wind orchestra Oktava

‘Picnic Among the Lilacs’. Photo by VU Botanical Garden.

In the Museum and Green Spaces

Lectures, film screenings, book presentations, and photography exhibitions

All-Day Activities Around the Garden

Educational activities and workshops for the whole family:

discovering meadow plants and herbs, crafting willow whistles, playing an orientation game, making beeswax candles, exploring herbalism and silk art activities, as well as learning more about lilacs and other plants

Sunday, 17 May | 10:00–20:00

Concerts on the Lilac Hill Stage

13:00 – VU Song and Dance Ensemble

15:00 – Lina Sakutė

17:00 – Milda Arčikauskaitė

All-Day Activities Around the Garden

Guided tours, educational sessions, and thematic events dedicated to plants, lilacs, trees, and the VU Botanical Garden collections

In the Museum

Photography exhibition ‘Songs for Birds’ by Irena Ševcova

Throughout the Weekend

Local Crafts and Creators’ Fair

Picnic areas beneath blooming lilacs

Activities for families and children

VU Botanical Garden collections and exhibitions