For Lithuanians, their first bowl of šaltibarščiai of the year heralds the beginning of summer. Its cooling properties make it the perfect antidote to the heat, and its vibrant pink colour adds to the summer vibe.
The humble bowl of pink soup is celebrated with parades, foam slides, costume contests, concerts, fun runs and plenty of pink. After drawing nearly 100,000 visitors in 2025, the city authorities decided to expand the party to a three-day extravaganza, fuelled by the health benefits of šaltibarščiai’s key ingredients – probiotic kefir and antioxidant-rich beets.