Residents of Lublin and Vilnius met at the "shared" table on May 7, at Litewski Square by the portal connecting both cities. The event was a preface to the upcoming festival – Pink Soup Fest to take place on June 1st in Vilnius.
I warmly invite you to participate in this special event. Residents of Lublin and Vilnius will once again meet on both sides of the portal connecting our cities. This initiative, referring to shared culinary traditions and the long-standing friendship between our cities, fits perfectly with Lublin's efforts to become the European Capital of Culture and the idea of Re:union, understood as an extraordinary meeting, dialogue, exchange of experiences, and creative cooperation - said Beata Stepaniuk-Kuśmierzak, Deputy Mayor of Lublin for Culture, Sports, and Participation.
This unique initiative, part of Lublin's efforts to become the European Capital of Culture 2029, aimed to emphasize the friendship between Poland and Lithuania and both partner cities: Lublin and Vilnius. The inspiration for the meeting was a cold soup, representing the common history and traditional dish of Polish-Lithuanian cuisine. During the event, the table in Lublin was connected with the one in Vilnius, thanks to the partnership of both cities and the symbolic portal, becoming the world's longest table gathering people for a shared, symbolic meal. Lublin-based internet creators, who promote Lublin on social media on a daily basis, representatives of the City of Lublin, guests invited by Go Vilnius were sitting on the Vilnius side of the portal, as well as interested residents of both cities, participated in the meeting. Together, they tasted pink delicacies, including beetroot, served in various extraordinary versions. Moreover, traditional Lithuanian cold soup was also served.
Pink Soup Fest will take place on June 1st in Vilnius at Tymas Market Square. It will be the second edition of the colorful festival promoting Lithuanian cold soup, šaltibarščiai. Lithuanian cold soup was recognised by Taste Atlas as the best soup in the world, beating competitors from other countries such as Spanish gazpacho and porra antequerana or Bulgarian tarator. Last year's edition of the event was attended by as many as 15,000 people. This year, Pink Soup Fest involves over 100 partners, including restaurants, cafes, pubs, clubs, city guides, artists, companies, and various Vilnius organisations and communities. In addition to culinary experiences, the festival in Vilnius offers a diverse range of other activities, including creative workshops and live concerts. Pink Soup Fest is family-friendly, so there will also be space tailored for children and young people. More information about the festival can be found on the Go Vilnius.
