Vilnius turns pink for a record-breaking cold beet soup celebration

Vilnius turned pink over the weekend as the city hosted its annual festival celebrating Lithuania’s beloved cold beet soup, šaltibarščiai. Tens of thousands gathered for three days of parades, feasting, and a record-breaking synchronized lunch. The event drew both locals and visitors eager to enjoy the country’s iconic summer dish. The Vilnius Pink Soup Fest transformed the capital into a sea of pink, with decorations lining the streets and participants donning costumes shaped like beets, cucumbers, and eggs. A lively parade wound through the city and along the Neris River, featuring floats and performers in vibrant pink outfits.

At the heart of the festival was the Pink Break—a mass lunch where thousands sat down together to eat šaltibarščiai. The chilled soup, made with beets, kefir, boiled potatoes, eggs, cucumbers, and dill, is a Lithuanian summer staple. Organisers reported that over three metric tons of kefir were consumed during the event.

Among the crowd was Connor Holmes, a tourist from the United Kingdom, who joined locals in savouring the refreshing dish. The festival’s mix of tradition, colour, and community spirit made it one of the city’s most vibrant gatherings of the year. More than 100,000 people attended this year’s Pink Soup Fest, making it one of Vilnius’s largest food celebrations. The event highlighted Lithuania’s culinary heritage while bringing together locals and international visitors. With its bright decorations, playful costumes, and shared meals, the festival once again proved a highlight of the summer season.