Photos by Lukas Baltuskonis

#DaugaiMindaugai – Statehood Day celebration

Building unity through community-led cultural experiences 

Place: Daugai, Alytus district municipality, Lithuania 

Timeframe: Mid term 

Participants: Local residents and guest of all ages – families, seniors, youth – cultural actors, NGOs, municipal representatives, and guests from surrounding communities, partner municipalities representatives from Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Ukraine. 

Goal: To create an inclusive, community-driven Statehood Day celebration that blends tradition with innovation, strengthens local identity, and promotes civic participation. The celebration also aimed to bring visibility to the district’s cultural richness and its ability to mobilize a wide spectrum of local actors. 

WHAT HAPPENED?

The celebration titled #DaugaiMindaugai took place on 6 July – Lithuania’s Statehood Day – in the town of Daugai. While it was a large-scale public event, several standout elements reflected the core CuReAP principles of community empowerment, cultural resilience, and co-creation. 

Activities: 

• A mass for the Nation in the local church, accompanied by live performances from professional soloists. 

• Community courtyards fair where local seniors’ clubs, artisans, youth groups, and NGOs set up decorated booths to present crafts, traditions, and interactive workshops. 

• A parade of decorated boats and canoes on Lake Didžiulis, followed by an open canoeing championship for the Mayor’s Cup – encouraging intergenerational engagement and eco-friendly recreation. 

• Live cultural acts around town – street music corners, folklore groups, historical reenactments, and storytelling spaces for children and seniors. 

• In the evening, there was an official honorary citizen award ceremony, followed by the singing of the national anthem together with Lithuanians from all over the world, a concert, and fireworks. 

This celebration combined diverse elements to highlight Alytus district’s vitality, openness, and connection to national heritage. 

WHY WAS IT A SUCCESS?

The event was jointly organized by Alytus district cultural centre, the municipal administration, local elderships, and other municipal institutions. Their coordination ensured both professional execution and grassroots involvement. 

Community-led vision: Ideas for activities came from residents and community groups. The municipality responded by co-organizing and supporting their implementation. 

Inclusive participation: Activities were designed to involve all generations and social groups – from canoeing athletes to folklore performers and local youth. 

Cultural and civic blending: The day featured meaningful cultural rituals, light-hearted festivities, and civic moments. 

Visible transformation: Even without infrastructure upgrades, the event transformed public space into a vibrant cultural hub with a unifying emotional impact. 

Participant feedback: 

“This was more than a celebration – it was a living experience of who we are as a community.” 

“My children not only played here, but listened to stories about our history. That means a lot.” 

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Encourage continuous involvement of local communities in event planning and storytelling.
2. Use natural and symbolic locations (e.g. lakes, churchyards) for stronger cultural connection.
3. Document these moments through photos, video, and interviews to keep the memory alive and inspire other municipalities.
4. Mix traditional and modern formats to appeal to broader groups and promote co-learning between generations.

LEARN MORE:

https://www.arsa.lt/naujienos/savivaldybes-informacija/507/neuzmirstamas-vakaras-nuaidejo-daugaimindaugai%3A473 

https://youtu.be/PFqRwl2QSQA?si=4DyAenpvzWt7ncjn