ANCESTORS AND US

Weekend of genealogy and traditions “Ancestors and us”

14-16th August, 2026
In Bilioniai etnographic homestead

Let’s come together – to spend some time with people who care about the same things we do, to marvel at Lithuanian nature, to experience Lithuanian traditions and folklore.
“Ancestors and us” is going to be a chance to learn more about our roots, be reminded of the things that were a part of daily lives of our ancestors – songs, dances, crafts and the sense of being one with nature and the community.

We’ll learn, have discussions, play, make some traditional food, and enjoy nature and our ancestral heritage.

Beginning: 14th August, 5 pm local time
End: 16th August 6 pm local time

Participation fees for this year:
adults (from 16 years old) – 130 Eur.
youth (12-16 years old) – 70 Eur.
children (7-12 years old) – 45 Eur
children (3-6 years old) – 25 Eur

One day ticket 60 Eur.

Those who wish can contribute a higher amount.

Programme

14th August

16:00 Arrival. Tea-time.
17:00 Opening.
18:30 Workshop: beeswax candles.
19:20 Picnic dinner.
20:00 Traditional singing circle with ethnomusicologist Rūta Vildžiūnienė
21:30 Folk tales of Lithuania Minor with Virgina Asnauskienė. An evening at the bonfire.
22:30 Catching stars.

15th August - Žolinė

7:30 Waking up
8:00 Preparing breakfast
8:20 Breakfast
9:00 Lecture “The secrets of genealogy. Are we repeatings history?”/Evelina Viktorija Žemeikytė/In Lithuanian-Samogitian
A short break.
10:30 Lecture “Church records and EAIS”val. Paskaita „Bažnytiniai įrašai ir EAIS“/Evelina Viktorija Žemeikytė/In Lithuanian-Samogitian
12:00 Preparing lunch
13:00 Lunch. Coffee & tea.
14:00 Lecture “The circle of life. Traditions of birth, marriage and death”/Evelina Viktorija Žemeikytė/In Lithuanian-Samogitian
15:30 Žolinė afternoon.
17:00 Preparing for dinner
17:30 Dinner
19:00 Žolinė evening programme. Will be specified.

16th August

7:30 Waking up
8:00 Breakfast
9:00 Lecture “Hand-weaving sashes in Lithuania Minor”/Weaver Ramunė Našlėnienė/In Lithuanian/Will be translated to English if needed
Short Break
11:00 Lecture “Genetic genealogy”/Genealogist Vytenis Bagdonas/In Lithuanian/Will be translated to English if needed
12:30 Workshop. Straw birds. With folk artist Dalia Lengvinaitė.
13:30 Preparing for lunch
14:00 Lunch
15:00 The games of our ancestors.
16:00 Discussion circle.
16:45 Concert. Singer Adrijus Alminas
17:40 Closing

All activities are suitable for participants of all ages. Last year’s youngest was 3 years old :)
The programme is preliminary and can be altered.

Participants will need to bring tents and sleeping bags - more information below.

IMPORTANT!

The weekend is alcohol-free and family-friendly.
We’ll ask participants to refrain from alcohol, psychotropic and psychedelic substances.
In case of not adhering to this rule, or other conflicts, the organisators reserve the right to call police to solve any problems.
Smoking will be prohibited in the territory of the homestead, however, it can be done after leaving the territory.
Although we love animals, we’ll ask you to leave them with friends or family to avoid allergies and additional noise :) Thank you for understanding.
Your children are more than welcome – the only thing we ask you to do is to keep an eye on them and ensure their safety. Children can participate in all activities.

Participation fees for this year:
adults (from 16 years old) – 130 Eur.
youth (12-16 years old) – 70 Eur.
children (7-12 years old) – 45 Eur
children (3-6 years old) – 25 Eur

One day ticket 60 Eur.

Those who wish can contribute a higher amount.,

To register, you need to make the payment and fill out the registration form on the right.

The payment can be made to the Lithuanian bank account (only from Europe):
Evelina Žemeikytė
LT674010051005187720
Bank Luminor
Purpose: weekend 14-16 August

You can also pay via PayPal - please add 5% for PayPal taxes:
https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/strongrootsgenealogy

*Participation fee is not refundable except the cases of force majeure and acts of God.

If you have questions, contact me at [email protected]

What do you need to bring?

Things for sleep (tent, sleeping bag, etc),
Homemade pie or else,
Some food for the first dinner - we’ll all share what we bring,
Musical instruments if you have any,
A warmer piece of clothing for the evening at the bonfire,
Something that reminds you of your grandparents, ancestors or family history – maybe it’s knitting needles and yearn, maybe it’s some kind of a tool, etc.
Paper version of your family tree and/or some old family pictures.

About the location

A wonderful Samogitian ethnographic homestead at the feet of Bilioniai mound that was brought back to life by the current owners, will wait for us to come together and celebrate.

This place takes one back to the times when life seemed simpler, and time was going slower.
We invite you to prepare tents and sleeping bags, and join this summer adventure: wake up from the sound of birds singing, see the sunrise while the fog is still setting in the fields.

Those unable to sleep in tents, please contact me at [email protected].

There are bathrooms with showers in the homestead.

Address: Piliakalnio street 5, Bilioniai, Šilalė district. 8 kilometres from the highway A1 Vilnius-Kaunas-Klaipėda.

Organisators

Weekend is organised by genealogy researcher Evelina Viktorija Žemeikytė and family.

Those who wish can support this project financially

Evelina Žemeikytė
LT674010051005187720
Bank Luminor
Purpose: donation for genealogy weekend

PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/strongrootsgenealogy