Pakroja Manor hosts autumn Bumbulines festival with dumpling-eating championship

Pakroja Manor in Lithuania is hosting its annual autumn festival, Bumbulines, today and tomorrow. Now in its sixth year, the event revives an old regional tradition of holding harvest celebrations once summer work was finished, when manors would host feasts with local beer, open-fire cooked food, music and dancing.

On September 20, guided tours in Latvian will be offered. On September 19, festival guests are being entertained by musicians including the folklore group "Trejupe" from the Bauska region of Latvia, according to Danute Vareikaite, the manor's communications manager for Latvia.

Food and competitions

Regional brewers will present local beer-making traditions, while cooks will prepare meat dishes over open fire and coals. One of the highlights will be the preparation of a 100-metre-long sausage.

Visitors can watch strongmen lift heavy weights and may challenge them to arm wrestling. Throughout the weekend, "Bumbulu" competitions will test strength, agility and wit, crowning the strongest Bumbulis, young Bumbulis and Bumbulis family. The festival also features its third dumpling (cepelīnai)-eating championship, for which participants are asked to register in advance.

Music and autumn fair

Live music from regional bands will play throughout both days, inviting visitors to dance. An autumn fair will run alongside the festival, with craftsmen and farmers selling harvest produce and handmade goods. Visitors can also explore the manor's historic brewery, distillery and working farmstead.

A special privilege awaits people whose surname is Bumbulis, Bumbuliauskas, Bumbulevičius or similar — showing identification at the entrance grants them free admission.