In the second half of the 19th century, Vilkija was home to the Litvak Karnowskis family – the future adoptive parents of jazz legend Louis Armstrong. At the end of the century, the Karnovskis left for the United States and settled in New York. When the family moved to New Orleans in the early 20th century, a fateful meeting with little Louis took place.
An event square was opened in Vilkija in 2021 to commemorate jazz legend Louis Armstrong and his adoptive parents, the Karnowskis.
The square is equipped with music players playing 13 of his most popular songs.