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Lithuanian Song Festival One Family - One Nation
Cleveland 2025.VI.27-29

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Culminating Concert

June 29, 2025 - 2:00 pm

Cleveland Public Auditorium

  • 65 choirs from across the United States, Canada, Lithuania and elsewhere in Europe
  • 1,500 adult, children and youth choristers + 100 folk dancers
  • Special orchestra of Lithuanian folk instruments from Cleveland's Sister City, Klaipėda

The song festival, which in its spirit is reminiscent of the ancient Greek Olympic Games, is recognized by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

Brief History & Overview

In a historic first, the world-renowned Lithuanian Song Festival is coming to downtown Cleveland. Baltic song festivals, a tradition begun more than 100 years ago, are the literal coming together of a nation in song. Choirs of all ages gather every 4-5 years to perform a single, coordinated repertoire, expressing their shared love of music and the vitality of their culture, nationality and traditions.

The centennial celebration of the first song festival took place in Lithuania in the summer of 2024. It featured more than 12,000 singers from over 450 choirs. It was attended by more than 100,000 spectators, and the live stream was viewed by over 300,000 viewers across the globe. In a country with a population under 3 million, the song festivals are a cultural phenomenon.

The song festival tradition was continued by the Lithuanian diaspora in the USA and Canada as a means of preserving their culture abroad. The first festival occurred in 1956 and motivated the community to fight for Lithuania’s independence, which was regained in 1991 following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The upcoming 2025 song festival will be the 11th such celebration in North America.

The Song Festival 2025

Our nation's cultural wonder for all to share.

About

Learn more about the song festival, including its history in North America, mission and team members.

Your visit

Access logistical information, such as where and when everything will be taking place as well as what to see in Cleveland.

Participants

Get all of the information for participating in the song festival with your choir.

Sponsors

Be a part of the family that is building this event. Contribute today as a financial donor.

News

Be sure to visit our news page in order to stay up to date on all of the latest information about the upcoming song festival.

See all news articles

The importance of the Lithuanian song...

I encountered the folk song, not in concert halls, but among the people. We lived under her wings, doing our work and expressing the fullness of our souls. Where we were two - the third was the song.
Justinas Marcinkevičius
Music was born at once with the human soul, and it is its first and most important language.
M.K. Čiurlionis
The song soothed, nursed, comforted,
When we were sad, when it hurt,
When we raised the word "freedom" to the heavens,
The song fluttered like a flag.
Bernardas Brazdžionis
The song festival has become a huge cultural movement for us, which is dear and significant to us both culturally and nationally. Such movements must be repeated, like the pulse of one's heart, constantly and rhythmically, in order for our nation to survive and flourish.
Alfonsas MikulskisCleveland, Ohio
The song has accompanied Lithuanians through the centuries - through joy and longing, during work and rest... The song inspired Lithuanians to break free from slavery and to walk a noble path to freedom.
Gediminas Kijauskas, SJCleveland, Ohio
The Song - The strength, consolation, sparkle of Lithuanians!
Dr. Viktoras StankusCleveland, Ohio
The song accompanied me
The song spoke the words of my heart,
The song brought us together,
Because we are Lithuanians,

So let us proclaim together:
Through song, I live!
Dalia Skrinskaitė-ViskontienėToronto, Canada
In songs, I look for a touch of peace, love and kindness, for the wisdom of books, for simplicity and silence, so that when I find what is most beautiful to me, I can share it with my children, my students, and those who walk next to me in my life.
Nijolė Puranaitė-BenotienėToronto, Canada
The power of a simple folk song is unique. It intertwines in the works of famous composers, echoes in the lyrics of writers, and is reflected in the paintings of artists with a calm monotony. The folk song was born in the heart of an ordinary person, but lives for centuries. It unites us with our children, great-grandparents and grandchildren. It soothes, comforts and warms us.
Rita Čyvaitė-KliorienėCleveland, Ohio
It echoes through the rolling hills like it echoes through my heart. It sings of sweet days gone by, and sings of the hope of days to come.
Susan KazėnasTampa, Florida
Singing for me is as necessary and as easy as breathing.
Dr. JonušasVilnius, Lithuania
Songs inspire me to honor my Lithuanian background.
Susan MartinToronto, Canada
As the venerable V. Landsbergis said: "The Lithuanian Song is freedom." When we sing, we express our love our country, no matter in which corner of the world we might find ourselves!
AidaLake Forest, Illinois
With song, I fly over the highlands where my mother grew, over Sudovia where my father grew, over my Lithuania…
NomedaSeattle, Washington
The Lithuanian song is another form of communion and fellowship with those around you.
Dalia CidzikaitėVilnius, Lithuania
Lithuania - the land of songs! Our exploits, joys, sufferings, longings, love, indivisibility of fate, glimmers of hope all echo through song.
Irena & Juozas PolikaitisChicago, Illinois
The Lithuanian Song Festival - Our national prayer of unity!
Danguolė BeinarytėKaunas, Lithuania

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