Visit Lithuania in autumn to slow down, step outside, and experience the country through fall foods and traditions. Come in September when Lithuania settles into its golden rhythm. Days grow shorter, forests turn amber, and the season’s abundance begins to fill baskets, kitchens, and local celebrations. Autumn riches lie beneath pine trees, among moss and fallen leaves, and in forest-gathered berries. It is a season to walk, forage, taste, and share.
Mushroom picking: Lithuania’s favorite fall competition
Picking mushrooms is a deep-rooted Lithuanian tradition. Autumn brings a huge variety of mushrooms to choose from — and lots of people searching for them! Starting in early September, head into any Lithuanian forest, especially in the morning, and you’ll likely find groups of people roaming through moss and thickets in search of what seems to be buried treasure. What treasure? Mushrooms. In fact, friends and family members compete to see who can gather the most, and more importantly, the biggest mushrooms.
Varėna: for a mushroom picking festival
One autumn weekend, many Lithuanians’ focus on a little town in the Dzūkija Region for the Mushroom Festival. Hosted in Varėna, it’s the pride of every inhabitant, for whom it’s more important than New Year’s Eve and July 6th (Lithuanian Statehood Day) put together!
The festival kicks off in the early morning, deep in Varėna’s woods, with the annual mushroom picking championship. Teams from across Lithuania try to outdo each other by amassing the biggest pile of these fragrant natural delicacies, later used to cook up a storm at home. Given the high stakes, the competition is fierce and passionate, not excluding the occasional disqualification for cheating! While anyone can take part, only the best ever emerge victorious. The festival’s core program, which draws thousands to Varėna, takes place in the city park. Here you can enjoy fairs, exhibitions, live music performances, copious amounts of excellent food, and a positive, life-affirming atmosphere.
A toast to Lithuania‘s fall flavors
Ready to uncork a bottle of something truly special? Lithuania's wines may surprise you!
Does Lithuania grow lots of grapes? Not really. So, what is its wine made of? That’s the surprising part! It can be anything from apple to blueberry, or from dark black currant to cherry wine. Whatever you choose, you can expect a vibrant, fruity palate with earthy undertones, all wrapped in a lingering sweet or semi-sweet finish. While some of the flavors might seem novel, there are layers of history behind Lithuanian berry wine. Anykščių Vynas, one of the largest wine producers, was established in 1926, and in 2005, it launched a line of wines called Voruta, which takes inspiration from some of the recipes perfected in the 1920s and 1930s. The fruit and berry wines not only pair well with traditional Lithuanian dishes, but are also a great souvenir, alongside mead – the strong honey liquor that’s probably as old as the country’s roots.
