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Starting from 12 June, Riga invites its residents and visitors to a variety of festive events organised by the Riga City Council with creative workshops, concerts and various activities.
Creative workshops for families with children
On 12 June at 12.00, 13.30 and 15.00 you can prepare for the Herbal Eve in the creative workshops for families with children "All the best at Midsummer's Eve!" at the Museum "Riga Art Nouveau Centre". Workshops will teach you how to choose plants for interior decoration, how to create flower arrangements and how to weave your own Midsummer wreath. A museum ticket will be valid for the participation in the event. Advance booking is required by email: jugendstils@riga.lv, on Facebook @RigaArtNouveau or by phone +371 67181465.
On 20 June from 12.00 and on 21 June from 15.00 the Riga Porcelain Museum will host the creative workshop "Solstice" – painting porcelain products in various techniques in the theme of the summer solstice. Advance booking is required by calling +371 26406354 on 10 June and 11 June between 11.30 and 17.30.
Midsummer songs in Victory Park, City Hall Square and surroundings
On 18 June, a dance grand concert "Mid-Summer Lives" will take place in City Hall Square from 19.00, with the participation of the folk dance ensemble and middle generation dance collective "Līgo", "Sen Līgo", dance ensemble "Daiļrade", middle generation dance ensemble "Daiļrades zelts", children folk dance ensemble "Dzintariņš", senior dance ensemble "Līgo absolventi". The concert is hosted by actress Zane Burnicka.
In the park of the Cultural Palace "Ziemeļblāzma", from 19.00, the event "Celebrating Midsummer in a Family Clean-up!" - dance performance by the folk dance ensemble "Dejotāju Saime" together with the middle generation dance collective "Auda” of Ziemeļblāzma, folklorist Andris Kapusta and folk musicians.
On 19 June, from 11.00 to 11.30 and from 13.00 to 13.30 in the Town Hall Square, as well as from 12.00 to 12.30 in the garden of the Culture Centre "Small Guild", there will be Midsummer music with the Riga Orchestra, featuring popular melodies from the repertoire of R. Pauls and the band "Labvēlīgais tips".
On 19 June, from 17.00, the Midsummer song and dance event "Jāņa sēta" in the Uzvaras Park, where you can enjoy a concert by Riga folklore groups and the children's vocal ensemble "Knīpas un Knauķi", creative workshops, a painting plein air, a wreath-making workshop and big wooden games. The second part of the event will feature a performance by the ethno company "Zeidi", and at the end of the evening everyone is invited to dance with the Riga Dance Club.
Join the Midsummer song events of the cultural space "Hive"!
The cultural space "Hive" will also host Midsummer song events. On 18 June, from 19.00, a concert by the dance groups "Dejotprieks", "Imantieši", "Latve" and "Imanta" will take place in the courtyard of the Culture Centre "Imanta", followed by a concert by Katrīna Dimanta at 20.30. There will also be a wreath-making workshop and large wooden games.
At 19.00, visitors of the cultural space "Hive" in the Ēbelmuiža Park in Ziepniekkalns will have the opportunity to dance with Juris Kaukulis and experience a dance evening with the ethno company "Zeidi". There will also be a Latvian script workshop.
On 19 June at 19.00, the event will take place in the cultural space "Strops" in Bolderāja, where the band "Zāle" will perform and a Latvian pattern workshop will take place. In the yard "Strops" of the Ķengarags Music and Art School in Riga, the Midsummer songs will be enriched together with the folklore group "Banga".
Great Day "Līgo. Blossoming" at the Ethnographic Open-Air Museum
On 21 June, all- day Midsummer song event – the Great Day "Līgo. Blossoming" will take place at the Ethnographic Open-Air Museum of Latvia, with the participation of the folk dance ensemble "Līgo" and the middle generation dance collective "Līgo", the middle generation dance collective "Sen Līgo" and the senior dance collective "Līgo absolventi", the children's and youth studio of the folk dance ensemble "Līgo", the folklore groups "Vilcenes", "Skandinieki", "Savieši", "Budēļi", "Zemgaļi", "Ceidari", "Ēdol's Ķists", "Suitu vīri" and the lute players' ensembles. At the end of the week, the audience will have the opportunity to experience the world premiere of the stage folk dance mystery "We Nine Brothers". The author of the performance - choreographer Jānis Purviņš. Tickets for the Great Day are available on www.bilesuparadize.lv.
From 20 June, the traditional Herb Market will take place in the Doms Square, where you will be able to buy traditional Midsummer herbs, Midsummer wreaths, crafts and summer harvest bounty from the Latvian countryside. A stage programme with songs and folk dances will enrich the atmosphere of the market. Opening hours of the market are from 9.00 to 19.00.
You can find out more about Midsummer’s song and celebration events in Riga on the website www.kultura.riga.lv and by following the information on the Riga City Council’s social media pages “Rīga” and “Rīgā notiek”.
Information was prepared by Ineta Miglāne, Project Coordinator, External Communication Division of the Communications Department of the Riga City Council, e-mail: ineta.miglane@riga.lv.
