The Table that Unites

The idea was to come up with a new record for the Guinness Book

Ana-Maria Cononovici, 14.10.2025, 14:00

They came, young and old, many dressed in traditional costumes, to sit at a large table located in the Alba Carolina Fortress in Alba Iulia (a city in southern Transylvania). Thus, on September 13, 2025, a Guinness World Record was established for the longest table made of recyclable materials, which was called “The Table that Unites”.

Alexa Vîlcan, the initiator of the project, told us the details of this unique experience:

“The idea was to come up with a new record for the Guinness Book, there is no precedent for the largest table made of recyclable materials, and we managed to achieve this record! We have been planning the preparation for about two years, the execution of the table took only two days, because we had an extraordinary team, made up of two companies, who were also volunteers, and they managed to complete the record in an extraordinarily short time. The Alba Carolina Fortress is shaped like a seven-pointed star and has an internal surface area of 2.7 kilometers, and we managed to spread the table over 2.7 kilometers. 10,000 people participated for the table, but behind the project there were another 1,000 people, who made this record possible.”

A table from which participants were encouraged to leave with whatever they wanted, as Alexa Vîlcan told us:

“The entire table was made with the support of many sponsors and partners, and from the beginning we thought of having a sustainable project. Thus, the table was made of recyclable materials, the tablecloth, the plates, etc. And all the sponsors were open for the participants to receive everything on the table, so we also prepared a bag under the plate, and in the bag you could put anything you wanted from the table, whether it was the recyclable ceramic plate, or the little flower vases, or fruit, or bread, dairy products, whatever you wanted, you could take. It was also easier for us to collect, at the same time we were also sustainable, and at the same time there was no mess left behind. Everyone was delighted, and as proof, the table remained empty. I think it was a real joy, you also left with a memento, you also took what you like from the table and didn’t waste anything.”

The official evaluator of Guinness World Records approved the “Unifying Table” event as the official record – the longest table built from recyclable materials – 2782.96 centimeters, the table being built entirely from recyclable materials, with a width of at least 71 cm along its entire length, almost entirely encompassing the moats of the Citadel. Alexa Vîlcan:

“The moment was impressive! You can see that we worked hard and intensely and took into account everything that was asked of us, in the Guideline (n.r. application guideline), the people at Guinness have some very strict rules and, if you don’t do what it says there, the chances of success are nonexistent! Some measurements were taken, there was a lady Guinness judge, a surveyor, an architect, an engineer. The whole moment was quite intense, because we were holding our breath, let’s see: do we fit in, do we not fit in, is everything okay? The checks were very strict:”

How was the feast? Alexa Vîlcan:

“We benefited from many dishes from the sponsors. And it was a real joy to see that so many companies put on the table, from sausages, eggs, chicken wings, bread, dairy products, fruits, vegetables, cakes, honey. It was a bountiful meal! From our point of view, now, after this record was achieved, from everything we saw around us as organizers and as participants, we consider that this is the most human record. I mean, so many people who put their shoulder to the wheel, who got involved, who gave a helping hand, at the same time the participants were extraordinarily respectful, happy, disciplined! In the end, there were 10,000 people together and everyone behaved extraordinarily. And the joy and happiness and peace were at a miraculous level! And today we all say that it was the most human record, because it proved that little by little, it becomes big, so that we can be united and that we can be people!”

The participants came in traditional costume, or in their peasant blouses, they sang at the table, some on the guitar, others on the flute, and an atmosphere was created that far exceeded everyone’s expectations, as Alexa Vîlcan confirmed to us, happy with the success achieved!