Barbie-Pink Cold Beet Soup Festival Brings Tens of Thousands to Vilnius

Lithuania's capital Vilnius turned pink on Saturday when tens of thousands of visitors arrived to celebrate the festival dedicated to the iconic chilled beet soup. The event honouring the traditional Lithuanian summer dish has become one of the Baltic region's largest food festivals.

Lithuania's capital Vilnius turned pink on Saturday as tens of thousands of visitors filled the city to celebrate the traditional Lithuanian cold beet soup festival. Streets, squares and visitors' clothing were covered in bright pink, a colour that has become integral to the festival.

The festival is dedicated to one of Lithuania's most iconic national dishes — cold beet soup or šaltibarščiai, which is especially popular during the summer season. The pink colour has become the festival's symbol, as it is the distinctive vibrant hue of the beet soup.

The event has grown over the years into one of the Baltic region's largest food festivals, attracting both local residents and foreign tourists. Festival-goers dress in pink, eat the soup and enjoy various cultural activities. Vilnius's street scene during the festival resembles a cheerful Barbie-themed picture, which is why the event has earned the nickname Barbie-Pink Cold Beet Soup Festival.