The largest extreme music and living history festival in Lithuania—KILKIM ŽAIBU —is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a special, richer-than-ever program filled with even more ancient spirit, the clamour of battle, and immersive experiences. One of this year’s major highlights this, offering a tangible connection to the past of our region, is an authentically crafted Viking-inspired wooden ship that festivalgoers will have the opportunity to
sail.
During the festival, Lake Lėnas will become a stage for living history, inviting visitors to explore the legacy of Baltic tribes' trade routes, take up the oars, experience life as true crew members, and immerse themselves in legends and myths during nighttime sailings.
The anniversary programme
We wanted this anniversary to stand out not only with its exceptionally rich musical programme but also with the depth of its living history content. That’s why we’re preparing the most extensive historical programme to date, filled with authentic activities and experiences.
The highlight will be a ship brought specially to Lake Lėnas for the festival—inviting all who wish to embark on a journey from the modern lakeshore into the historical world of our ancestors.
In addition to the ship, the KILKIM ŽAIBU audience will also be able to witness a reenactment of a medieval battle with Vikings and visit a crafts village, where artisans demonstrate traditional medieval techniques. The fierce warrior duels—where members of historical reenactment clubs representing tribes from Lithuania and neighbouring countries compete for the victor’s title—are by now a well-established tradition. Meanwhile, festivalgoers will also have the chance to test their strength and endurance on the Viking football field and take part in other archaic games and activities, some of which date back hundreds of years.
To Lake Lėnas from Germany through Vilkaviškis
The idea for the ship that will sail across the waves of Lake Lėnas this summer was born in 2017. The vision was brought to life by Baltic culture enthusiast from Germany, Kevin Gruendel. The ship was built by a shipbuilder from Vilkaviškis, and the crew that grew around it now continues its activities independently, developing educational historical programmes, offering “edutainment” tours, and inviting people to experience living history.
Although the ship was built using modern tools and is equipped with an engine and technical systems, its design closely follows historical analogues. Every detail—from the handcrafted chests to the authentic vessels, clothing, and jewellery—has been recreated based on archaeological findings. It is not just a means of transport, but also an educational platform for living history.
This shape was common for the ships of both the Baltic tribes and Scandinavian Vikings, who sailed not only the seas but also the rivers—reaching as far as Kiev and Constantinople. We strive to convey this historical spirit in a way that is not only educational but also engaging, offering an opportunity to become a part of living history to all festival guests.
The KILKIM ŽAIBU audience will be able to sail this history-infused vessel from morning until late evening, while the most steadfast among them will be invited for a nigh-time sailing steeped in legends and myths in the very heart of Lake Lėnas, where the stillness of the water and a sky full of stars will set the scene for stories echoing from the ancient past.
