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On March 11, 2026, a ceremonial event took place at Santa Barbara City College to commemorate the Day of the Restoration of Lithuania’s Independence and to honor one of Lithuania’s most renowned cultural figures, Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis. The celebration consisted of two parts: a daytime flag-raising ceremony and an evening cultural program that brought together members of the academic community, city representatives, and the Lithuanian diaspora.

A Ceremonial Flag-Raising

The commemoration began in the courtyard of the Luria Library at Santa Barbara City College with the raising of the Lithuanian national flag. The Act of the Restoration of Independence, signed on March 11, 1990, is one of the most significant events in modern Lithuanian history. On that day, the Supreme Council of Lithuania declared the restoration of the independent Lithuanian state and the end of Soviet occupation. This decision marked a courageous step toward freedom and democracy and ushered in a new chapter in Lithuania’s statehood after more than five decades of Soviet rule.

The ceremony was opened by the Honorary Consul General of Lithuania for California’s Central Coast, Daiva Čekanauskas Navarrette, who welcomed the guests and thanked the college leadership, representatives of the Consulate, faculty, students, and community members for their participation. In her remarks, she also highlighted the significance of March 11, when Lithuania restored its independence and returned to the community of democratic nations.

Santa Barbara City College President Erika Endrijonas also delivered welcoming remarks, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation and cultural exchange within the academic community.

In her speech, the Consul General of Lithuania in Los Angeles, Sandra Brikaitė, noted that “On March 11, 1990, Lithuania made a historic decision—our nation declared that it wanted to live in freedom again. From its own history, Lithuania knows how precious freedom is, which is why we firmly support Ukraine in its fight for sovereignty and peace.” She also highlighted the strong ties between Lithuania and the United States.

The culmination of the ceremony was the raising of the United States and Lithuanian flags. As the national anthems of both countries—“The Star-Spangled Banner” and “Tautiška giesmė”—were performed, attendees honored the symbols of the two nations. Following the ceremony, guests had the opportunity to meet, take photographs, and were invited to visit the Čiurlionis exhibition,  Experience Trail of Angels, an immersive virtual-reality journey through M. K. Čiurlionis’ dreamlike artistic world, produced by Oniroco Studios and attend the evening program.

An Evening Cultural Program Honoring M. K. Čiurlionis

Since the beginning of March, Santa Barbara City College, the Consulate General of Lithuania in Los Angeles, and the Honorary Consul General for Central California have been inviting the public to visit an exhibition dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the birth of Lithuania’s most celebrated artist, Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis. The exhibition features reproductions of Čiurlionis’ works as well as “Čiurlionis’ Beloved Ones,” an exhibition created by first-year students of the Vilnius Academy of Arts together with Professor Jolanta Talaikytė. The exhibition will remain on view until March 20.

In the evening, Santa Barbara City College hosted a cultural program titled “An Evening with One of the Greats: A Celebration of M.K. Čiurlionis”. Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis (1875–1911) was one of Lithuania’s most prominent cultural figures—a composer and painter whose work occupies a distinctive place in the history of European modernism. His art uniquely merges music and painting: many of his paintings bear musical titles such as sonatas, fugues, or preludes, reflecting his aspiration to unite different art forms into a single symbolic whole. Themes of the cosmos, nature, mythology, and spirituality often appear in his paintings, while his music is known for its lyrical subtlety and innovative harmonies. Although his life was short, his legacy became an essential part of Lithuania’s cultural identity and continues to inspire artists and scholars worldwide.

Before the program, a reception was held in the courtyard of the Garvin Theatre, where guests enjoyed Lithuanian refreshments and traditional Lithuanian šakotis cake.

The evening opened with the United States national anthem, performed a cappella by Santa Barbara City College student Isabel Watson, followed by the Lithuanian national anthem performed on piano by pianist Eglė Janulevičiūtė.

Guests were welcomed by Santa Barbara City College President Erika Endrijonas, who shared memories of her childhood with her Lithuanian grandparents, and by Consul General Sandra Brikaitė, who noted that Lithuanians’ hope for freedom was sustained by the knowledge that the United States never officially recognized the occupation of the Baltic states. The event was also attended by Santa Barbara Mayor Pro Tem Kristen Sneddon, who presented an official city proclamation honoring Lithuania’s Restoration of Independence Day.

Dr. Joy Kunz from the Santa Barbara City College Art Department introduced the evening’s keynote speaker, architect and researcher Dr. Edmund Saliklis, who delivered a lecture on Čiurlionis’ artistic legacy and its significance for the Lithuanian diaspora and global culture.

The cultural program also included musical performances. Santa Barbara City College student Mia McAbian performed on cello, accompanied by faculty member Dr. Adea Badivuku. Pianist Eglė Janulevičiūtė performed works by M. K. Čiurlionis.

At the conclusion of the evening, Honorary Consul General Daiva Čekanauskas Navarrette expressed her gratitude to the organizers, partners, and participants for their joint efforts in promoting Lithuanian culture and strengthening international connections.

The event became a meaningful commemoration of the Restoration of Lithuania’s Independence, reflecting the nation’s commitment to living in a free, independent, and democratic state while also providing a wonderful opportunity to introduce Lithuania’s cultural heritage to an international audience.

Remembering State Holiday Celebrations on the U.S. West Coast

This year, the team of the Consulate General of Lithuania actively participated in celebrations marking February 16 and March 11 across the U.S. West Coast.

The festivities began on February 14 with an Independence hike to the summit of Eagle Rock organized together with LABA.LA and the Lithuanian community of Los Angeles. Carrying the Lithuanian tricolor and in high spirits, participants climbed to the top where, accompanied by sunshine and wind, they sang the Lithuanian national anthem. It was a meaningful moment of unity, symbolically reminding us that freedom requires effort, solidarity, and faith.

On February 15, the celebrations continued with the Lithuanian community of Los Angeles. Consul General Sandra Brikaitė and the Consulate team attended the commemoration held at St. Casimir Parish. The event began with piano music performed by pianist Rimantas Vingras, filling the church with a sense of reflection and reverence both before and during the Mass celebrated by Father Tomas Karanauskas in honor of Lithuania’s independence.

The official part of the commemoration was hosted by Honorary Consul General Daiva Navarrette. The celebration was also attended by Estonia’s Honorary Consul Jaak Treiman and representatives of the Ukrainian community, including Taras Semchyshyn, President of the Ukrainian Culture Center, and Olga Popel, President of tThe Southern California Holodomor Genocide Committee - once again highlighting the importance of international solidarity.

In her remarks, Consul General Sandra Brikaitė noted that the decision to restore Lithuania’s independence 108 years ago was a courageous and determined step. Today, our responsibility is to protect and strengthen that independence - by remaining united, responsible, and continuing to support Ukraine in its struggle for freedom and territorial integrity.

During the event, a project titled “Roots,” led by Vilius Žalpys and dedicated to preserving historic Lithuanian burial sites on the U.S. West Coast, was also presented. The initiative serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving historical memory, honoring heritage, and maintaining Lithuanian identity beyond Lithuania’s borders.

The program also featured artistic performances, including guitar songs by Mindaugas Babonas, a performance by the dance group “Retro,” and a lively jazz performance by the Lithuanian duo “CinAmono,” whose energy and professionalism created a joyful atmosphere.

On February 21, Consul General Sandra Brikaitė visited Seattle and attended a celebration organized by the local Lithuanian community marking both February 16 and March 11. Responding to the organizers’ invitation to celebrate Lithuania’s ethnographic regions by wearing traditional attire, she wore the national costume of her native region, Samogitia. She also greeted the audience in the Samogitian dialect, emphasizing the unity of the Lithuanian nation after fifty years of occupation and encouraging everyone to remain patriotic, devote time to Lithuania in their daily lives, and share the true story of the country with those who may not know it.

On March 8, Deputy Consul General Justina Jakavonytė and Commercial Attaché Andrius Sankauskas attended a state holiday celebration organized by the Lithuanian community in San Diego. The event featured Lithuanian music, dancing, poetry, and homemade cepelinai prepared by members of the community.

The Consulate General of Lithuania in Los Angeles takes great pride in the active Lithuanian communities along the West Coast and their dedication to promoting Lithuanian culture, fostering patriotism, and working together to increase awareness of Lithuania in the United States.