On 23 August 1989, nearly two million people held hands across Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia to form a 700 km human chain. This peaceful protest – the Baltic Way (Balti kett) – captured the world’s attention and helped pave the road to independence. Join us in commemoration of this event in Melbourne.
Saturday, 23 August 2025, 1:30 PM
Melbourne Latvian House, 3 Dickens Street, Elwood VIC 3184
By donation (proceeds to the Ukrainian Crisis Appeal)
The Melbourne commemoration will include eyewitness stories from Baltic representatives, reflections by Lithuanian-Australian journalist Jonas Mašanauskas, and an address by Honorary Consul-General of Lithuania, Dana Levickis. Latvian choirs and students will perform, while Café Rīga will offer traditional fare before and after the program.
We’ll also join hands in a Baltic Way re-enactment – come stand in solidarity with our Baltic friends.
Thank you to the Latvian Federation of Australia and New Zealand for organising this event with support from Baltic societies in Melbourne.
