It's truly SUMMER! When the festival arrives in July. The 'Port city' or 'Sea city'.
We are...the 3rd biggest city and the ONLY one, that has the sea at its feet and a port.
Where?
In Lithuania. It's near the Baltic sea
What city?
Klaipeda.
Part 2:
https://steemit.com/travel/@mylifeasgoda/sea-festival-journey-part2
Part 3:
https://steemit.com/travel/@mylifeasgoda/sea-festival-the-market-life-part-3
Here, we kind of call this event "The second Christmas" of summer. It shows of our city to the tourists, attracts tourism and other people form around the world. So, it's good for us and is fun for the locals.
The 'Sea festival' has been held annually since 1934.
It usually starts the last weekend of July, but it can vary. It could be held at the end of July or the beginning of August.
The program of the festivity is usually known the last week or so, and is announced on the local newspaper and website.
The festival starts, when the Mayor of the town gives a speech and 'OPENS' the fun! Then, there is always a 'parade' and people from all kinds of workplaces, that have something to do with ships and sea, get a chance to walk in front of the parade each year and are warmly welcomed by the folk with smiles and waves.
The main and longest street of the Old town is closed, so cars could not PASS and that is where the local market takes place. In the middle of the old town, right near the docks and port, resides around the entire street and both parts of the park on each side.
Picture of the old town and boats and ships, etc. of the Regatta race
The main street and everywhere around, is usually decorated with anything and everything 'sea' or 'ship' or 'water' themed.
You can see lots of flags with anchors on them and the colors of white, blue and yellow dominating the Old town.
There's always carts of ice cream, waffles and even coffee around every corner, so you won't be thirsty at any point. People also sell hats and fans, so the sun wouldn't "kiss" you too much and in the wrong way.
But don't worry! There are PLENTY of benches around and all kinds of things to sit on, so even if you get tired of walking, you will find a place to rest.
Random...
by the DOCKS...
There are so many restaurants open, so you can eat or have a leisure kind of time. Many eat outside, where you can get beer or mead out of these huge barrels and eat Lithuanian cuisine. Port, beans, all kinds of 'military' porridges and potatoes, etc. Heavy food, but when you get hungry there, you will be FED, for money of course.
We had these old ships come and be shown to the publiceye. This one impressed me.
THE MARKET.
Where people from all around our country, sell handmade goods.
Such as...
- Various clothes. Out of wool, cotton or linen, by local artists and designers.
- Sweets. That you can't get from any store, 'coz they are made only on these kind of events, the sugar kind or honey cakes, both are super popular, and both made by the old traditions/ways.
- Food. It could be fresh or salted and smoked fish, all kinds of cheese or meat and bread of all kinds. And let us not forget HONEY! Many beekeepers sell it themselves with pride of their work/craft.
- Beverages. Natural beer or mead, by the locals or from any corners of our country, who want to celebrate their brand.
- Crafts. Out of wood, glass, stone and any kind of metal. Most popular metal : brass.
- Jewelry. The artists/designer/jewelrers are getting better each year and I even saw jewelry out of cement, simple stones, glass,e tc. Of course, you can find the more 'usual' ones too: out of silver, other metals, etc.
and many other things...
MARKET TALK.
I'd say the market is the most fun place, 'coz you can meat those, who show up each year and make small talk, get better prices as local 'friends' and just KNOW that you are buying a solid, good thing. It is normal and usual to befriend the market sellers and get their contacts and ask HOW they make their stuff and WHERE do they get the materials.
it's like a ...P.S.
NOTE: it is NORMAL and usual to bargain for prices. Not that I'm good at it...if I even MANAGE to get 40 euro cents of anything, I feel like a champion! SOme people manage to get two or evenmore euros of things! Just so you know. Of course, depending on the initial price of an item.
A fountain, made just for the festival in the middle of a road, now made as a pedestrian street.
Many 'open to the public eye' things that reside, during the festival:
- Parades. Usually 'Sea' themed.
- Galleries of all kinds in various places around the Old town.
- Theater! For kids kind and adults kind, at the same time in various places.
- MUSIC! All kinds of street artists and musicians play at the same time, not so far away from each other.
This is how the proud locals of meat products decided to show themselves of!
PEOPLE.
The city is usually filled with PEOPLE, so if you are an introvert, maybe stay away from the city for 3 days. Children are always playing with balloons, water bubbles, those tiny electric vehicles, that are mini versions of big cars and any fountain they can find. It is super nice and uts a smile on my face to see the elderly come out and take part of the fun, which they can find people dancing in traditional clothing and singing the old songs.
SOMETHING NEW.
EVERY YEAR is different! WE bring more fun and more activities! This year is no exception.
That will be in PART2.
You can check the main website here:
http://jurossvente.lt/en/main/
I hope I got you interested and this was fun to read and I didn't forget to mention something important...
There will be a PART2! :)
P.S. I took the pictures myself, in the moment with lots of people passing by, so I hope they are OK.
Enjoy each moment!
Goda