Festival Siauliu dienos

This weekend our city Siauliai changed from a quiet and peaceful town to a crowed, lively Lodestone. There were Siauliu dienos 2009, a festival taking place in Siauliai once a year.

Early in the Friday morning the whole pedestrian street was already full of booths and crowded. You could buy traditional food and hand made things there, starting with leather bags, over wool socks to jewel.Linda and me we went shopping there on Saturday and I really enjoyed it. So many things and such low prices in Germany you can't Buy such nice but cheap jewel anywhere.

In the early afternoon an opening of "Modestas Navickas Exhibition" took place in the museum of photography. The photos dealt with fashion photography. All the pictures in the gallery looked very professional and showed people in connection with clothes. While visitors could enjoy some wine and snacks, models presented self made dresses and some people gave speeches.

Another event of the afternoon was a parade through the city. Many people from schools, clubs or other communities took part in it and all of them wore traditional clothes or costumes. They walked through the streets shouting, singing and celebrating the city spirit.

The Didzdvario Gimnazija also joined the parade. Students carried the Flag of the school and they wore traditional dresses. In the evening a concert of many different groups themed “let’s bring greetings to each other” was presented next to the church. There were bands like “happyendless” or “Šiauliai Chamber Orchestra“playing. The concert was great and many people listened to it in front of the stage. The atmosphere was brilliant and the booth all over the place earned lots of money from hungry and thirsty visitors.I really enjoyed the atmosphere together with the other volunteers. We tried Lithuanian bear, kepta duana and had a lot of fun.
On Saturday the shops in the pedestrian street took most of my time when I'm honest. But we also saw an exhibition again. This time city painters showed their works inthe Siauliu Art Gallery. There were many interesting paintings and sculptures. I had Arts in my a-levels so I am interested in it and I really liked what I saw in the Gallery.
In the evenig we were invited to a party in youth center. It wasn't that good because there were not so many people there as it was expected. But the Lithuanien students who were there really enjoyed the music DJs from Latvia played and that fact fascinates me. I also think as a volunteer in a new country between new people I have to try everything and just look at everything in an optimistically perspective. So all in all I liked it. The Lithuanian students invited us what showes their hospitably that's enough for me right now.
As a conclusion I can say that I can just report with a foreigner’s eyes but I think the festival is a great thing for everybody. Tourists can learn many things about culture and customs while people from Siauliai can show traditions or sell handmade work. And the most important thing is that everybody can enjoy the music, the shops and the shows. As a conclusion I would say Siauliu dienos is multifaceted and a great opportunity for meeting people and having fun.