“Merkinės Fabrikas” organizes the celebration of the end of the project: exhibition, creative workshops, bird market and traditional selection of the most beautiful roosters

„I never once regretted my decision, even in the most difficult times”, says journalist and traveler Vytaras Radzevičius, founder of the culture, entertainment and active leisure center “Merkinės Fabrikas”. The project started four years ago, which was supported by the international project “Encouraging local cultural entrepreneurship – Merkinė dvarvieta”, financed by the “Culture” program of the European Economic Area financial mechanism, is coming to an end.

This weekend, the final event of the project, which the manufacturers called “Long live spring, Merkinė and culture”, will take place in the “Merkinė factory”. From noon, Merkinė will ring with the voices of birds – the traditional spring bird market of Jore will be held here, the participants of the festival will choose the most beautiful rooster and hen, local artisans will present their handmade products and food products, and the exhibition “Leaking” by the photographer Aurim Rima will be solemnly closed with a team of bikers from Vilnius. oil”, the artisan and weaver Rita Valiukevičienė will invite to the creative workshop “Let the plants speak”, who will teach how to weave baskets, bowls and hats from coastal and marsh plants – caterpillars.

The summer terrace of “Pasaulio potų” opened specially for Saturday will offer festive food and drinks, and the event will be rounded off by the group “Baltasis kiras”, which will invite the Merkinė community and guests to a wild concert. The finalists of the project will be hosted by the TV presenter, traveler and Dzūkija Zaeivys – Martynas Starkus. All Saturday events in Merkina are free.

“After establishing the Merkinė factory, we promoted culture and created new traditions in Merkinė for four years. Jorė’s Day or Jurginė’s Day is a Lithuanian celebration of spring greenery. This holiday is traditional at “Merkinė Fabrik”. “Joreti” means to grow or green, enjoying this day we let spring into nature and heart. For us, it is also the end of a big stage, the project “Encouraging local cultural entrepreneurship – Merkinė dvarvieta” or in short – “Merkinė factory”, which is successfully financed with the funds of the “Culture” program of the financial mechanism of the European Economic Area. And the end of something is also the beginning of something new, resisting implemented ideas and created traditions”, says V. Radzevičius, the founder of “Merkinės Fabrikos” and adds that it was the “Culture” program of the financial mechanism of the European Economic Area that made it possible to organize free cultural events in Merkinės – the ancient days festival “Samanos”, concert “Opera with jeans”, art exhibitions, creative workshops, cultural, entrepreneurship and good experience sharing seminars, movie screenings.

V. Radzevičius has no doubt that the cultural experiences, established traditions and strong attraction in Merkinė will remain. “We must nurture, protect and spread culture, because this is the basis of our nation’s survival. Merkinė was once a very important city, the years have destroyed it, but the aura of the city has remained, you can feel it at every step. Our mission is for people to experience it, to understand the history of the city, to fall in love with Merkinė and together with us create its history today”, says the journalist and traveler who sees Merkinė as one of his life’s missions.