Festival season is soon among us. The vibe, the people, and the location are the key ingredients of a great festival. Everybody knows the biggest festivals in Europe, but if you are looking for more of an intimate escape, a place to discover new artists, connect with nature and people, look no further than Yaga Gathering. Set in the picturesque dense woodlands in Lithuania, nestled between a tranquil lake and a cool river the niche festival has been dubbed “a well-kept secret”.
Yaga Gathering has garnered a reputation for being hedonistic at night and wholesome during the day by establishing a utopian playground that encourages relationships, introspection, and artistic expression. With performance, installation, video, and music at its core, Yaga is committed to a diverse range of artistic mediums. Additionally, the festival featured culinary experiences prepared by Michelin-starred chefs, twenty-course degustation dinners, oyster tastings, and Cannagustation education to observe the mental effects of CBD, CBG, and CBC in food. In the meantime, there are mental education events covering subjects like “The Spectrum of Drug Policy: From Prohibition to Unrestricted Access,” “Psychedelic therapies in Lithuania,” and “Art and Brain: how our culture defines our reality.”
This year’s artwork traces invisible coordinates, scattered throughout the light and mist. The Off the Map theme is interpreted in each piece through changed navigation, disorientation, and experience. The woodland is transformed by Lithuanian and international artists into a location of surprising meetings, ceremonial areas, and subtly provocative elements. Highlights include Claywoman (US): a legendary 500-million-year-old being from the Mirillion Galaxy returns to Earth for a surreal, drag-infused mission; Vaivorykštės Miuziklas (LT): a queer, community- devised musical based on real stories and autobiographical theatre; Ella Skinner (UK): presents Death of the Box, a haunting piece exploring isolation and the tension of bodies under pressure and more. Music bound Fantastic Twins, Anatolian Weapons, Ece Ozul, Lyra Pramuk, Trancesetters of Westphalia, and Migulma are just some of the announced lineups on several stages that will see an eclectic mash-up of genres, especially electronic.
Hope to connect with you at the magical event in the woods!
Yaga Gathering takes place in Varena, Lithuania, over the 10-15th July.
Check out the lineup and more HERE!
