Vilnius is creating a tradition for the New Year – an impressive 3D show on the Cathedral Bell Tower

Crowed impressed by the fascinating 3D show counting down minutes left till the New Year, 12 bell strikes, kissing couples and fireworks of the year – and this is not yet all what Vilnius has prepared for welcoming the New Year 2019. Residents and guests of Vilnius are invited to celebrate the New Year’s Eve at the Cathedral Square, next to one of the oldest and tallest symbols of the city – the belfry of the Vilnius Cathedral, which will become live in an impressive 3D video projection installation at 10:01 p.m. The organizers promise that this will be the first 3D show as impressive as this projected on a bell tower in Lithuania.

“Like other metropolises of the world, Vilnius invites to welcome the New Year next to the buildings that have become symbols of a country or a capital: at the Times Square in New York, next to the Great Westminster Tower in London, Paris Eiffel Tower or Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. This year, we invite you to welcome the New Year at the Bell Tower of the Cathedral for the first time. Here you will not only be able to enjoy the New Year’s fireworks, but also be entertained by a special view – a unique 3D show on the tower designed specifically for this occasion. We are creating new traditions – we will welcome the New Year 2019 at the heart of the city in an original, meaningful and interesting way”, says Remigijus Šimašius, Mayor of Vilnius.

At 10:00 p.m., the Bell Tower will become alive and transform. The audience will be impressed by its special lighting, spatial sound and exceptional animation with a short storyline. The tower will be “alive” until 01:00 a.m. It will change its shape and texture every 5 minutes from wood to stone. The video installation will be accompanied by a mysterious music track with various sound effects. At 10 minutes to midnight, a tower watchmaker will capture everyone’s attention as he will start countdown to New Year 2019. At midnight, bells of the Bell Tower will start striking, accompanied by spectacular New Year’s fireworks.

“This new project will be unique in its historical sense and unusual architectural expression. A unique 3D projection illuminating a building from all sides is the first in Lithuania. The structure of the Bell Tower is unusual, there are very few such buildings in the world. So far, a similar 3D video projection was displayed on just a few of them. 16 modern projectors will be used to illuminate the Bell Tower building using ultra-powerful video servers”, the group, which created the installation for several months, told.

The Christmas Town at the Cathedral Square will also be open on the New Year’s Eve till midnight, offering to indulge in festive treats or hot wine. Residents and guests of Vilnius are asked not to take their own drinks with them, especially in glass containers, taking care of the safety of their own and others around them. Own fireworks will definitely not be needed at the event – the City of Vilnius will present an impressive fireworks show prepared by real professionals.

Festivities will last till 01:00 a.m. Then the Bell Tower will be lit up in the colours of the national flag and will stay this way till January 2, symbolically commemorating the 100^th anniversary of raising the Lithuanian flag on the Gediminas Castle Tower.

Please be reminded that traffic will be shut during the New Year Eve’s celebration from 11:00 p.m. on 31 12 2018 till 01:00 a.m. on 01 01 2019 in T. Vrublevskio, Šventaragio and Barboros Radvilaitės Streets. On weekends and holidays, traffic is prohibited on Gedinimas Avenue from Vilniaus to Šventaragio Street.

Residents and guests of Vilnius are invited to leave their cars at home and choose public transport to go to New Year Eve’s events. The schedule of public transport will be more frequent and buses will be more spacious. Trips by public transport can easily be planned using the travel planner: http://stops.lt/vilnius/#plan/. Drivers are welcome to leave their cars further away from the city centre. Using “Statyk ir važiuok” (Park & Ride) parking lots located at Ukmergės Street 246 (near PC Senukai), Sėlių Street 62 (Žvėrynas) and V. Gerulaičio Street 1 (in front of the Technopolis Business Center) and getting to the center by public transport is very convenient.

Vilnius invites you to welcome the New Year 2019 at the Cathedral Square and not to miss the exclusive 3D show!