Discuss, discover, get to know: Birštonas will once again become the capital of discussions

This year's discussion topics are as diverse as the resort: artificial intelligence challenges to future food alternatives. In addition to engaging discussions, there will also be fun activities for adults and children, traditional resort entertainment awaits the visitors.

According to Birštonas municipality mayor Nijolė Dirginčienė, the synergy between the city and the festival is obvious. The debate festival, which will be held in the resort for the fifth year, every year attracts not only "Būtent!" fans, but also visiting tourists who unexpectedly discover the festival and then willingly return to it next year.

"Birštonas is compact but also spacious, it is full of parks, paths, and squares, and you can get around it on foot, by bike - the infrastructure is perfect for that. Birštonas has plenty of accommodation, catering establishments, and various entertainment. In order to take a breather after passionate discussions, it will be possible to dive into the pleasures of sanatoriums and spa centers or try active resort activities - go down the longest toboggan run or count the steps while climbing the highest observation tower in Lithuania", says Rūta Kapačinskaitė, director of the Birštonas Tourism Information Center.

There is a lot of activity and even more discussions

This year, the discussion festival will be held on Saturday, so a large concentration of various and relevant topics awaits in Vytautas Park - as many as 55. In the largest spaces, it will be possible to listen to discussions about artificial intelligence, innovations, gender (in)equality, education, emotional health, safety in the city, and media literacy, and gourmets will be fascinated by the discussion about the food of the future.

With more and more rumors that vacations in foreign countries are cheaper, the municipality of Birštonas initiates a topical topic for resorts - "Why do we underestimate recreation in Lithuania?" and invites Rimvydas Širvinskas, founder and manager of the travel studio "Makalius", head of the National Tourism Promotion Agency "Travel in Lithuania" to the discussion table. Olga Gončarova, Lithuanian Tourism Association executive director Milda Rainienė and Jogaila Morkūnas, creative director of the event organization agency "Pirmoji kava".

Experts will also discuss political issues: they will discuss the geopolitics of the European Union and China, Lithuania's "soft power", Soviet memory, youth involvement in politics, and the European economy after the war. In addition, this year's festival offers a unique opportunity to listen to a special interview with Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonyte. By asking questions to the Prime Minister, the listeners themselves will be able to participate directly in the interview.

Arnas Marcinkus, one of the organizers of the festival, says that "every year the festival brings together different people for discussions. Everyone will find a place for themselves here - someone who misses social topics is looking for financial knowledge or is curious about any topic. Being open and free, the festival welcomes everyone, from the smallest children in the spaces to pets, who will be delighted by the festival partners. We can only be happy that the festival is full of both content and diversity of forms and guests."

From critical thinking exercises to scientific experiments

Although the main focus of the festival is on open discussions that encourage listening and tolerance of other points of view, there are also many other fun activities prepared for visitors. In the small spaces of the festival, it will be possible not only to listen to discussions but also to watch a film, do critical thinking training, or take part in the forum theater.

The space of the festival's partners will not leave anyone indifferent. Here, visitors will learn about Islamic culture, discuss pet issues, take part in the journalism laboratory, and learn about the work of the Seimas. Participants will be invited to try various games and take part in practical sessions, quizzes, and simultaneous chess.

While the adults spend time listening to the discussions, the little ones are waiting for the children's area filled with entertainment, animators, and activities. In it, the youngest participants of the festival will be invited to create robots, conduct scientific experiments, taste colorful cocktails, and try many other fun activities.

After an intense day of discussions, Vytautas Park will be filled with music - Monika Linkytė's evening concert. Guests of the resort will also enjoy traditional entertainment: water tours through the Nemunas loops, updated sightseeing trails, mineral water kiosks, or hot air balloon flights. There won't be any hungry people either - there will be a food area at the festival, and the resort's restaurants and cafes will be in town.