Vilnius Pink Soup Fest Attracts Over 100,000 Visitors

Vilnius, Lithuania – The annual "Pink Soup Fest" in Lithuania's capital, Vilnius, concluded yesterday, transforming the city into a sea of pink for three days. The festival is estimated to have attracted over 100,000 visitors who participated in pink soup dishes and various creative activities to welcome the arrival of summer.

Pink Soup (Šaltibarščiai) is a representative traditional cold soup dish in Lithuania, also considered one of its national dishes. This pink cold soup is a cold beetroot soup, with its pink hue originating from the purple color of pickled beetroot, mixed with fermented milk to create a tender pink color.

Every Lithuanian family has its own recipe for pink soup, with slight variations in ingredient proportions, but the basic preparation is generally consistent. The soup typically includes shredded cucumbers, green onions, hard-boiled eggs, seasoned simply with salt, and finally garnished with uniquely aromatic dill. After mixing well and letting it sit briefly, a refreshing and appetizing bowl of pink cold soup, appealing to both sight and taste, is ready.

To promote this distinctive cuisine, Go Vilnius, the official tourism and business development agency of Vilnius, has been organizing the Pink Soup Fest since 2023. In addition to welcoming summer, the festival also aims to showcase the city's creative energy and tourism charm.

This year marks the 4th edition of the Vilnius Pink Soup Fest. A major highlight of this year's event was the pink water parade held on the Neris River, which flows through the city center. Approximately 50 various boats sailed along the river, while thousands of citizens, dressed in pink or adorned with pink decorations, joined the parade along the riverbanks, accompanied by music, creating a lively and spectacular scene.

This year, the popular 50-meter giant slide also made a comeback, upgraded to a height of about 4 stories, or 13 meters. It attracted a large number of tourists queuing to experience it, becoming one of the popular landmarks at the venue.

The pink costume contest was also a highlight of the event, reaching its climax on May 30th. In addition to local Lithuanian participants, tourists from Latvia, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany also took part, showcasing creative outfits in pink or inspired by the soup, demonstrating diverse interpretations of this classic dish.

In addition to the crowds, merchant participation was also significantly higher this year. Eglė Girdzijauskaitė, PR Director at Go Vilnius, stated that approximately 200 partner businesses and over 300 event locations responded this year, offering limited-edition products, food, discounts, and art installations, boosting the overall festive atmosphere.

During the event, businesses launched a variety of pink soup-related products, including creative dishes like potato chips, udon noodles, and cocktails, as well as peripheral products such as jewelry, bag accessories, clothing, and pet supplies. Among them, a sex toy company's launch of a pink-colored lubricant with a beetroot soup aroma became a topic of discussion.

Organizers reported that thousands of portions of pink cold soup were consumed in the city during the festival, and about 3.3 tons of kefir, the main fermented milk ingredient, were used, indicating that pink soup was the culinary star of the city during the event.

The 5th Vilnius Pink Soup Fest is scheduled to take place from May 28th to 30th next year. Organizers also invite international travelers to plan their trips in advance to attend this annual event in Lithuania. (Editor: Tian Ruihua) 1150601