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On Friday, September 18, Consul Sandra Zolubienė and Administrative Officer Jūratė Vietaitė from the Consulate General of the Republic of Lithuania in Los Angeles held a consular mission in Berkeley, in the San Francisco Bay Area.

During the mission, more than 50 people were assisted and over 60 consular services were provided. We are pleased that the mission gave us an opportunity not only to provide essential consular services, but also to meet with Lithuanians from the Bay Area, learn more about our community and what matters to its members, invite them to upcoming events, and share more about the work of the Consulate.

Thank you to everyone who came, took the time to meet with us, and contributed to this warm and meaningful gathering!

“Europe in the Park” – Lithuania at San Francisco’s European Celebration

On Saturday, September 19, the team of the Consulate General of the Republic of Lithuania in Los Angeles - Agnė Gurevičienė, Sandra Zolubienė, Kastytis Latoža, and Jūratė Vietaitė - took part for the third time in “Europe in the Park,” an event organized by the European Union Office in San Francisco.

“Europe in the Park” is a vibrant open air celebration of European culture, cuisine, music, and creativity held in the heart of San Francisco, in Golden Gate Park. It brings together European countries to showcase their traditions, culture, history, and people.

This year’s “Europe in the Park” is estimated to have attracted around 10,000 visitors. Twenty-two countries took part, with 12 live music and artistic performances throughout the day. Visitors could enjoy European food and beverages, take part in educational and innovation focused activities, and explore a wide range of cultural and community initiatives. Golden Gate Park was transformed into a lively European village, celebrating Europe’s diversity, creativity, traditions, and shared values.

The event brought together EU Member States, cultural institutions, local partners, and communities from across the San Francisco Bay Area for a shared celebration of European culture and cuisine. Visitors enjoyed live music and performances, interactive activities and games, educational and innovation initiatives, tourism and cultural presentations, and family-friendly activities. The event also provided an opportunity for communities to meet, connect, and actively participate.

The celebration was opened by Gerard de Graaf, Head of the European Union Office in San Francisco. California State Senator Scott Wiener, who represents San Francisco, also welcomed the event’s participants. On the occasion, we had the pleasure of treating them to traditional Lithuanian delicacies — šakotis, a traditional Lithuanian tree cake, and sweet grybukai (“little mushrooms”). Lithuanian flavors sparked considerable curiosity and many questions, particularly about how šakotis is made and the occasions on which it is traditionally prepared in Lithuania.

This year, the Lithuanian booth invited visitors to learn more about one of Lithuania’s national symbols - the oak tree. And not just any oak: the Laukiai Oak, which was named the 2026 European Tree of the Year and grows in the village of Rukai in the Skuodas District of Lithuania.

The tree is not only impressive in its size and appearance, but also a meaningful symbol of Lithuanian culture and family traditions. Planted with care and love by Pranciškus and Barbora Laukiai, the oak has been tended by the sixth generation of the Laukiai family. Its story beautifully reflects what a tree can represent to us: a connection between generations, roots, continuity, and the ability to grow together.

As we shared the story of the Laukiai Oak, we invited “Europe in the Park” visitors to write their wishes, dreams, hopes, and aspirations on symbolic oak branches and then hang them on a branch of an American oak tree placed in a Lithuanian vase. This beautiful idea was made possible with the help of Aušra Shtarka, Chair of the Lithuanian-American Community of San Francisco. We sincerely thank her for her creativity and care.

And we have to admit - the visitors’ response pleasantly surprised us. People eagerly shared their thoughts, wishes, and hopes. And perhaps it will come as no surprise that, among the many words written down, one appeared most frequently: PEACE. Perhaps this was one of the most beautiful messages we carried home from the European village this year.

There was no shortage of fun challenges at the Lithuanian booth, either. Adults and children were invited to take part in a Lithuanian themed quiz featuring questions not only about interesting facts about Lithuania, but also about the unexpected connections between Lithuania and the United States. And there are far more of these connections than we sometimes realize!

Those who answered correctly received Lithuanian souvenirs and, of course, sweet prizes - šakotis and grybukai. The latter attracted particular attention: even visitors who admitted that they... did not like mushrooms were willing to try the mushroom shaped treats! Šakotis also proved to be a great conversation starter. Visitors were curious about how this distinctive cake is made, why it has such a unique shape, on what occasions it is traditionally served in Lithuania, and where they might be able to taste or purchase it in the United States.

We were especially delighted that Lithuanian music and dance were part of the official “Europe in the Park” program this year. The San Francisco Lithuanian dance group “SF Tiltas” and the choir “Ūkana” performed on the event stage. The dancers performed the Lithuanian folk dances “Vaikščiuo Povą” and “Rasodėle,” while the “Ūkana” choir performed Vytautas Kernagis’ beloved song “Mūsų dienos kaip šventė” (“Our Days Are Like a Celebration”).

Our sincere thanks to the group’s director, Vanesa Kašelionytė, and to all the performers for their beautiful, energetic, and heartfelt performances. Lithuanian songs and dances offered yet another way to show that our culture is alive, evolving, and cherished far beyond Lithuania’s borders.

The day at “Europe in the Park” passed quickly, but it left us with many wonderful encounters, conversations, and smiles. Once again, the celebration reminded us that there are many ways to introduce Lithuania to the world - through history and contemporary culture, through music and dance, through quiz questions, through a traditional šakotis, or simply through a genuine conversation.

This year, the oak we chose as the centerpiece of our presentation became an especially meaningful symbol. Its roots are in Lithuania, its branches reach far across the world, and the wishes visitors wrote on those branches reminded us that, regardless of language, country, or culture, many of us are connected by the same things: peace, family, friendship, love, hope, and the wish for future generations to have a good place to grow.

In an increasingly complex geopolitical environment, “Europe in the Park” serves as an important platform for public diplomacy, strengthening connections between people and helping American audiences gain a deeper understanding of Europe.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by the Lithuanian booth, tasted our treats, asked questions, took part in the quiz, danced, sang, and shared their thoughts with us. Until our next gathering - see you at the next “Europe in the Park”!

Photos Dovilės Dirsaitės and CG of the Republic of Lithuania in Los Angeles