a humid continental climate with quite large seasonal differences. Culture Alytaus Naujienos is a local newspaper in Alytus. Alytus hosted the Art Strike Biennial between 18 and 24 August 2009 in response to Vilnius becoming European Capital of Culture for 2009. This included a demonstration and a three sided football match. The universal indoor Alytus Arena hosted the Eurobasket 2011 Group C matches in Alytus. In 2010 Alytus was awarded the Honourable Plate of the European Council. Alytus has a museum dedicated to veterans of both the Afghan wars. In Alytus, several Bonsai exhibitions were held with participants from European and other countries, such as Japan and the United States. Alytus has hosted an annual Tomato tasting since 2007. Participants offer a wide variety of tomatoes and discuss the various factors which help produce a rich crop of the fruit. Alytus has an industrial company named Snaigė, which manufactures refrigerators. Twin towns – sister cities Alytus is twinned with: Amata, Latvia Berdychiv, Ukraine Botkyrka, Sweden Crawley, United Kingdom Ełk, Poland General San Martín, Argentina Giżycko County, Poland Hiratsuka, Japan Kremenchuk, Ukraine Mandal, Norway Næstved, Denmark Ningbo, China Opole, Poland Ostrołęka, Poland Rochester, United States Rouen, France Suwałki, Poland Vélizy-Villacoublay, France The city was previously twinned with: Grodno, Belarus Lida, Belarus Petrozavodsk, Russia Smarhonʹ, Belarus Notes References External links Alytus County Governor's Administration Alytus Municipality's site Alytus News Website Alytus Young Friend Interactive map of Alytus fortress The murder of the Jews of Alytus during World War II, at Yad Vashem website. Capitals of Lithuanian counties Cities in Alytus County Cities in Lithuania Holocaust locations in Lithuania Municipalities administrative centres of Lithuania Municipalities of Alytus County Suwałki Governorate Trakai Voivodeship