Mushroom Festival

For a single weekend in the autumn, many Lithuanians’ attention shifts decisively towards a little town located in Dzūkija Region. The Mushroom Festival, hosted by Varėna, is the pride of all its inhabitants, for whom it’s more important than New Year’s Eve and July 6th (Lithuanian Statehood Day) put together! The festival kicks off in the middle of Varėna’s woods, in the early morning hours, with the annual mushroom picking championship. Teams hailing from across Lithuania try to beat each other in amassing the biggest pile of these fragrant natural delicacies that are later used in cooking up a storm back home. Given the high stakes, the competition here is fierce and passionate, not excluding the occasional disqualification for cheating! While everyone can take part, only the best are ever able to actually emerge victorious. The festival’s core programme, in any case, which draws thousands to Varėna takes place in the city park. Here you can enjoy fairs, exhibitions, live music performances, copious amounts of excellent food, and a positive, lifeaffirming atmosphere.