Sea Festival visitors rate the event 8.4 out of 10

Klaipėda’s Sea Festival received a strong score from the people who attended it this year: 8.4 out of 10. Nearly 400 residents and visitors took part in a special survey designed to find out what they enjoyed, what they missed and what could be improved.

Živilė Putnienė, head of the event organizer Klaipėdos šventės, presented the results at a meeting of the Klaipėda municipal working group on maritime affairs. “People could say what they thought, what the festival lacked and what could be improved,” she said.

Organizers singled out several successful features. President Gitanas Nausėda took part in the Sea Festival’s opening parade for the first time, surprising many people. Visitors also responded positively to the decision to start the parade an hour later, allowing more people to watch after work.

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People could say what they thought, what the festival lacked and what could be improved.

An event in Theatre Square with music critic and journalist Ramūnas Zilnys also drew heavy interest. All seats were occupied, and some passers-by had to listen while standing. The later parade, however, created problems as well. While the change suited some visitors, others were forced into severe congestion on Priešpilio Street toward the cruise terminal. Some distinguished captains and sailors were also difficult for spectators to see because of the low sides of the vehicles used in the procession.

Next year’s Sea Festival will take place from July 30 to August 1. Putnienė said Klaipėda plans a more substantial celebration because the city will mark its 775th anniversary, with the city’s birthday falling on August 1. The previous festival ran from July 23 to 26, and several hundred thousand people are estimated to attend the event each year.

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Because next year is Klaipėda’s anniversary, 775 years, the city wants to hold a somewhat more substantial celebration, and the city’s birthday is on August 1.