Christmas is just around the corner! We dance together, rush to decorate for the holidays, and set the tables to the sound of the merriest festive songs. Enjoy the lights, Christmas trees, and festive activities in your city as you get into the Christmas spirit.
Concerts and events to celebrate Christmas
On 18 December, from 19.00 to 20.00, the concert performance “Pasakaini sniegi snieg” will take place in the Great Hall of the Riga Culture and Folk Art Centre “Small Guild” (Mazā ģilde). The children’s and youth vocal ensemble “Kolibri” and an instrumental band will perform at the concert. The audience will have the opportunity to enjoy a festive atmosphere while listening to Christmas songs and poems dedicated to winter and Christmas read by the ensemble members.
On 19 December, from 18.00 to 19.00, the Christmas concert “Karameles” by the children’s vocal ensemble “Knīpas un knauķi” will take place in the Great Hall of the Riga Culture and Folk Art Centre “Small Guild” (Mazā ģilde). The concert programme “Karameles” will feature popular songs by Ingus Ulmanis, Aigars Voitišķs, Raimonds Pauls, Zigfrīds Muktupāvels, Valts Pūce, as well as other composers.
A sparkling Christmas party together with Ilona Bagele and “Prieka orķestris” of Vairis Nartišs will be celebrated on 21 December, at 15.00, at the Vidzeme Market. The repertoire of the party is created in the mood of Balkan music, combined with the brass band music characteristic of Latvian open-air dance parties and the German Oktoberfest music.
On the evening of 21 December, from 18.00 to 20.00, the traditional dragging of the Yule log will take place in the Town Hall Square that, as usual, will bring together people wearing masks in order to celebrate the winter solstice which marks the beginning of the astronomical winter. The celebration will start in the Town Hall Square, continuing along the route from the Town Hall Square to Grēcinieku Street, then along Audēju Street, Vaļņu Street, Kaļķu Street, Līvu Square, Zirgu Street, Doma Square, Jauniela Street and back to the Town Hall Square where the event will be concluded with a bonfire, dancing, rituals, and the burning of logs.
A sparkling Christmas party together with Ilona Bagele and “Prieka orķestris” of Vairis Nartišs will be celebrated on 22 December, at 15.00, at the Imanta Market, and the musical performance “Skursteņslauķu jampadracis” will take place from 16.00 to 16.45 at Ziedoņdārzs. During the concert, there will be the opportunity to dance, cheer, sing, and get a button for happiness and luck.
On 22 December, at 19.00, the series of Advent concerts “Gadalaiku krāsas. Ziema skan.” will be concluded with the concert “Es palūgšu baltajam eņģelim” where the children’s vocal ensemble “Saulessvece”, women’s vocal ensembles “Madara” and “Sniega roze”, men’s vocal ensemble “Senozols”, and pianist Māris Treijs will jointly perform beautiful, beloved Christmas melodies.
In addition, at 20.30, the concert “Es paliku” will be performed by the youth choir “Balsis” at the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Riga.
From 23 December 2023 until 7 January 2024, at 12.00 and 14.00, free cinema screenings will be available for children at the Cinema K. Suns at 83/85 Elizabetes Street. The programme includes six full-length animated films and two feature films for children and young people.
A sparkling Christmas party together with Ilona Bagele and “Prieka orķestris” of Vairis Nartišs will be celebrated on 23 December, at 15.00, at the Āgenskalns Market, and the concert “Es paliku” will be performed at 20.30 at the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Riga.
Christmas Eve will be marked by a quintet of Santa Clauses on 24 December from 11.30 to 12.00 at Bastejkalns and from 12.30 to 13.00 at Vērmanes Garden. Well-known and traditional Christmas songs will be performed.
From 13.00 to 16.00, the fourth Advent candle will be lit in the Christmas Garden at 5 Torņakalna Street, on the grounds of the Church of Luther in Riga, and there will be a market, a photo corner, a café, a place for good thoughts and expressing gratitude in silence, and a Christmas party together with Ilona Bagele and “Prieka orķestris” of Vairis Nartišs will be celebrated at 15.00, at the Riga Central Market.
On the First Day of Christmas, 25 December, from 13.00 to 16.00, an outdoor concert will take place on the grounds of the Church of Luther in Riga, at 5 Torņakalna Street (Anete Kozlovska, Kristaps Vanadziņš, chamber choir “MoonBeams”, Linda Naudiņa, and other performers), and there will be a market, a photo corner, a café, a place for good thoughts and expressing gratitude in silence, whereas the first candle of The Twelve Holy Nights will be lit on the old dial of the church clock at 16.00.
Meanwhile, at 15.00, the Riga Chamber Choir “Ave Sol” will perform at the Great Guild (Lielā ģilde), presenting a colourful programme of secular Christmas music “Ziemassvētku noskaņa” which includes various visions on the Christmas tradition over a period of more than a hundred years, as well as the première of a new piece – “Ziemassvētku kantāte” by Jānis Ķirsis.
The musical programme of the First Day of Christmas will conclude at 23.00 at the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Riga with the concert “Es paliku”.
On the Second Day of Christmas, 26 December, from 13.00 to 16.00, a market, a photo corner, a café, a place for good thoughts and expressing gratitude in silence will be available on the grounds of the Church of Luther in Riga, at 5 Torņakalna Street, whereas the second candle of The Twelve Holy Nights will be lit on the old dial of the church clock at 16.00.
From 16.00 to 17.30, at the Great Hall of the Imanta Culture Centre, the audience will have a chance to enjoy a Christmas concert by Marija Naumova “Gavilējiet, zvaigznes!”, while the concert “Kad leduspuķes zied” will be performed by the Russian folk music ensemble “Sadko” at 16.00, at the Chamber Hall of the VEF Culture Palace.
Christmas markets and Christmas light trail
Please note that this week there will also be festive markets at Esplanāde, Doma Square, and Vidzeme Market. At the Esplanāde Market, everyone will find gifts from a range of local artisans in the decorated and illuminated merchants’ houses, as well as will be able to enjoy a ride on the Ferris wheel, which will allow you to see the joyful bustle from a height of 15 metres. One of the most delightful attractions at this year’s Esplanāde Christmas Market is the Rabbit Kingdom, which attracts passers-by big and small alike. At the Doma Square Market, you can feel the Christmas atmosphere, buy gifts, and enjoy a wide cultural programme. On 20, 21 and 22 December the Vidzeme Market will offer products from local farmers, home producers, and craftsmen, as well as musical surprises, creative workshops, and a meeting with Santa Clause.
You are also invited to enjoy magical light adventures. Until February, Riga’s boulevards and parks, the quiet city centre, and the Old Town will be dressed in light, transforming the urban environment into a magical light experience. As last year, there will be the Christmas Light Trail along the city’s canal promenade, where this year the beloved moon has been joined by 10 sparkling stars.
Until 26 December, the Vērmanes Garden will host the Solstice Cupboard, where you will have the opportunity to hear predictions, beliefs, wishes and get inspiration for the coming year by imitating the starry sky.
You can find out more about the Christmas events organised by the Riga municipality by visiting the website svetki.riga.lv and by following the news on the social media pages “Rīga” and “Rīgā notiek”.
Information prepared by: Aira Ancāne, Project Coordinator at External Communication Division of Riga City Council,e-mail: aira.ancane@riga.lv