Global events honor the Baltic Way’s 35th anniversary of peaceful protest
This year marks the 35th anniversary of the Baltic Way, a historic peaceful protest for independence. Events will take place across Europe and North America, from concerts and exhibitions to speeches and cultural performances.
The commemorations begin in August, with gatherings in cities including Toronto, Vancouver, Washington, and Malmö.
On 22 August, Toronto will host a commemorative event featuring speeches by Baltic ambassadors and cultural performances. Two days later, a similar gathering will be held in Vancouver.
In the United States, Washington will hold its own commemoration on 23 August. Speakers from Baltic embassies and diaspora groups will address the crowd. The same day, Malmö in Sweden will see national demonstrations and choir performances.
A concert titled Your Heart is Your Home will also take place in Bergen, Norway, on 23 August. Choirs from the Baltic states and Norway will perform together. Meanwhile, in Georgia, the Latvian Ambassador will give a presentation on the Baltic Way in Kvareli.
Finland’s capital, Helsinki, will host a photo exhibition called Baltic Way 35 throughout August. The display will document the struggle for independence in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Copenhagen will also feature a concert of organ music by D. Hicks on 28 August at 20:00.
In September, Athens will open an exhibition of 56 documentary photographs from the archives of all three Baltic states. Prague will then host an international exhibition, BALTIC WAY - UNITED FOR FREEDOM, from 16 to 29 September.
The final major event will be held in Berlin on 7 November. At the Estonian Embassy, a speaker will discuss the Baltic Way and its significance for the region.
The 35th anniversary of the Baltic Way will be remembered through a mix of cultural, musical, and historical events. Each gathering will highlight the peaceful protest’s role in the Baltic states’ fight for independence. The commemorations stretch from August to November, involving multiple countries and communities.
