Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Vilnius, Lithuania

St. Patrick’s Day might have originated in Ireland, but the holiday blossomed into an international celebration over the last 300-plus years. Lithuania is no exception when it comes to celebrating, and the capital city of Vilnius throws one of the best events come March 17.

The medieval Old Town and Baroque architecture make for an excellent backdrop for a lively celebration of St. Patrick and all things Irish. The tiny city comes alive with live Irish rock and folk music. The Irish ambassador to Lithuania also hosts a lavish event that features traditional Irish choirs and an enormous feast.

Like Chicago, the city of Vilnius has a similar tradition of painting the town green — including its river. The greening of the river is often followed by the traditional trip of a steamboat down the water as participants gather and watch from the shores. Of course, it wouldn’t be St. Patrick’s Day without drinking. Rest assured the bars in Vilnius roar to life and keep hopping through the night on one of the world’s most popular drinking holidays.

Some of the local breweries even feature parades of Irish setters, live showings of popular Irish sporting events and occasionally a pop-up Guinness bar on the bridge crossing the river. Whether you’re a proud Irish or simply enjoy a great festival, Vilnius offers one of the best opportunities to ring in St. Patrick’s Day and experience a truly unique country at once.