In Vilnius, Lithuania, the iconic cold beet soup known as šaltibarščiai took center stage during a vibrant festival in the capital. Tens of thousands attended the three-day Vilnius Pink Soup Fest, where pink decorations filled the city.
The festival featured a synchronized lunch called the ‘Pink Break,’ where participants from various countries gathered to savor the beet soup at long communal tables. Organizers anticipated that over three metric tons (6,614 lbs) of kefir, a key ingredient, would be consumed across the festival’s duration. The event aimed to attract more than 100,000 attendees.
This refreshing soup, enjoyed during Lithuania’s short summers, is a mix of beets, kefir, boiled potatoes, eggs, cucumbers, and dill. The festival drew international visitors like Connor Holmes from the United Kingdom. Discovering the event online, Holmes described it as “completely ridiculous in the best possible way.”
Holmes shared, “I found myself building pink knight armor, swapping a sword for a spoon, and adorning my shield with eggs, dill, and potatoes. Visiting Vilnius to witness the festivities firsthand felt inevitable.”
The city became a pink wonderland as both tourists and residents dressed in pink. Some donned costumes resembling cucumbers, eggs, and beets, participating in a parade on land and along the Neris River. Jolanta Žukienė, a Vilnius teacher, attended for the fourth time with her family, observing the festival’s growth in attractions and international visitors.
Jolanta remarked, “Vilnius is becoming a magnet for those who enjoy good food and unique experiences.”
The festival is part of efforts to boost tourism to the Baltic region. Dovilė Aleksandravičienė, director of Go Vilnius, noted the success, saying, “With crowds on the banks and decorated boats, cold beet soup seems to have captured both land and water. Perhaps the air is next.”