Cleveland Hosts 2025 Lithuanian Song Festival: A Celebration of Music, Culture, and Community.
Michael Patterson – Community Liaison at Margaret W. Wong
On Sunday, June 29, the Cleveland Public Auditorium came alive during the final concert of the 2025 Lithuanian Song Festival. This three-day celebration (June 27–29) marked the 11th time the festival has taken place in North America. Margaret W. Wong & Associates LLC proudly sponsored the event.
The festival website highlights the impressive scale of the event:
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65 choirs from the U.S., Canada, Lithuania, and across Europe
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Over 1,500 singers, including adults, youth, and children
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100 folk dancers
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A special folk orchestra from Klaipėda, Cleveland’s sister city
Honoring a Century of Tradition
Baltic song festivals have united communities through music for over 100 years. Every 4–5 years, choirs of all ages perform a shared repertoire, celebrating cultural pride and connection.
Lithuanian immigrants and refugees brought this tradition to North America. The first festival here, held in 1956, helped preserve Lithuanian identity and inspired support for Lithuania’s eventual independence in 1991.
Why Cleveland?
Cleveland offered the perfect setting. Its active Lithuanian-American community contributes to local arts, politics, and cultural life. As Case Western Reserve University notes, Cleveland’s Lithuanian population leads in civic engagement and folk art preservation.
A Message of Unity
Before the final performance, Mayor Justin Bibb shared a video message praising the concert as a powerful symbol of unity and “shared humanity.”
