In Vilnius, Lithuania’s capital, a vibrant festival dedicated to the celebrated cold beet soup, known as šaltibarščiai, drew tens of thousands of visitors. The three-day event, dubbed Vilnius Pink Soup Fest, transformed the city into pink extravagance over the weekend.

The event’s highlight was a coordinated ‘Pink Break’ lunch, where participants from around the world gathered at long tables to enjoy the beet soup. Organizers anticipated the consumption of over three metric tons (6,614 lbs) of kefir, a fermented milk drink, essential to the soup. They also expected more than 100,000 attendees over the event duration.

This refreshing soup, a staple during Lithuania’s brief summer, combines ingredients like beets, kefir, boiled potatoes, eggs, cucumbers, and dill. The festival attracted international visitors, including a tourist from the United Kingdom, Connor Holmes. He discovered the festival online and expressed delight in its unique appeal.

Holmes shared his experience, noting, “Before I knew it, I was crafting a suit of pink knight armor, holding a spoon instead of a sword, and decorating my shield with eggs, dill, and potatoes. Attending the festival became the next logical step.”

Visitors celebrated in vibrant pink costumes, with some dressing as cucumbers, eggs, and beets. The event included a festive parade both on land and along the Neris River. Jolanta Žukienė from Vilnius, attending for the fourth time, brought her family and commented on the festival’s growing popularity and diverse attractions.

Dovilė Aleksandravičienė, director of Go Vilnius, the city’s development agency, described the festival as a significant effort to boost tourism. She observed, “With crowds lining the banks and decorated boats, we joked that cold beet soup already dominates both land and water. Perhaps the air is next.”