FROM ŠVENTARAGIS TO 1000 WOLVES

The first-ever City Myths Festival „Šventaragis“, will take place on September 10–12, inviting Vilnius residents and guests to gather where it all began — on Gediminas Castle Hill. Vilnius is often said to begin with Gediminas’ dream and the legend of the Iron Wolf. But before the dream, there was fire — burning at the confluence of the Vilnia and Neris rivers, in the Šventaragis Valley, where, according to chronicles, Duke Šventaragis introduced the rite of cremation and laid the spiritual foundations of Vilnius.This unique festival invites audiences to rediscover the city's forgotten origins through an intimate headphone-based experience on Gediminas Hill.

 Three evenings — Past, Present, and Future — will weave together a continuous arrative in which the legend of Vilnius is reborn through sound, light, and dream.

PAST

An ancient world of Lithuanian mythology will come alive through archaic sound and live performance. The stage will feature Žalvarinis, Veronika Povilionienė, Kūlgrinda, Rasa Serra, and Marijonas Mikutavičius. Together, they will create a special atmosphere evoking a time when this hilltop was a vibrant center of sacred rituals and when the city’s legend was born by the glowing fire.

Audience members will listen through headphones, immersed in a unique, intimate sonic experience under the open sky.

PRESENT

September 11th (10 PM) – Gabrielė Vilkickytė: “Wolf’s Dream”

On the second evening of the festival, the inner wolf awakens atop Gediminas Castle Hill – a symbol of Gabrielė Vilkickytė’s creative world. Her acoustic concert “Wolf’s Dream”, experienced through headphones, will be a quiet, intimate escape from the city’s noise – as the artist puts it, a return to essence.

The wolf in Gabrielė’s music represents the wild within us – the part we try to tame by day, but which returns at night with dreams, unrest, and sleepless wakefulness. The performance will feature songs from across her creative journey, and surprise guests will also appear on stage.

FUTURE

September 12th (10 PM) – Light and Sound Performance “VILNIUS 2723”

The final evening will culminate in a spectacular, one-hour immersive performance of sound and light, inviting audiences to journey into the Vilnius of the future. The project is created by composer and sound designer Maximilianas Oprishka–FUME, lighting designer Arvydas Buinauskas, and the scenography and lighting studio AB Light.

This bold experiment blends sound, light, and vision – where the echo of the Iron Wolf meets futuristic interpretations of the city and dreamscapes that transport us to the year 2723.

UNIQUE EXPERIENCES

Beyond concerts, the festival will host a forum with leading historians — Prof. A. Bumblauskas, Prof. V. Vaitkevičius, Prof. A. Luchtanas, and Dr. R. Kačkutė, General Director of the National Museum of Lithuania — moderated by Rytis Zemkauskas. Additional activities include guided tours Three Truths About Šventaragis, a traditional crafts fair, educational workshops with the National Museum, and a rare opportunity for open-air overnight stay in the Šventaragis Valley — to dream new beginnings for the city. 

Important: All events take place outdoors — please dress appropriately for the weather. Photography and filming will occur throughout the festival. Photos and video material may be used for public communication purposes.