Festival attendees were treated to an afternoon of entertainment featuring concerts by artists including Rokas Yan, Rolandas Janušas, and Laura Remeikienė. Beyond the musical performances, the event provided a variety of activities, including creative workshops, educational sessions, and networking opportunities with sponsors and care home staff. The most notable feature of the festival was a large-scale mass hugging event, which embodied this year’s central theme: “hug childhood.” This initiative aimed to set a new record for the number of hugs exchanged.
The concept behind the hugging activity emphasizes that physical affection is a crucial emotional need for children. The organizers highlighted the importance of these interactions for children in care settings, noting that for some, receiving a hug—whether physical or verbal—provides a vital sense of belonging, visibility, and comfort. According to Jūratė Zailskienė, the Minister of Social Protection and Labour, such community gatherings serve a dual purpose.
They not only strengthen the bonds within guardian families but also contribute positively to the public perception of care homes. The successful integration of entertainment with emotionally resonant activities underscored the festival’s mission. By focusing on the simple act of hugging, the event successfully connected community support with the vital emotional well-being of vulnerable children, marking a significant cultural moment for the local care community.
Topics: #festival #hugging #record
