Events worth attending on Independence Day

Celebrating the Independence Day of the Republic of Latvia, May 4, residents of Riga and guests of the city are invited to attend a variety of cultural events – both the solemn flower-laying ceremony at the Freedom Monument and the special musical programs dedicated to the holiday, concerts and creative workshops, a film marathon, the campaign “Uzvelc tautas dress in honor of Latvia” and other events in the city center and its surroundings.

Cultural events

Celebrations dedicated to the 34th anniversary of the restoration of the independence of the Republic of Latvia will begin on May 4 from 10.30 to 11.00 with a solemn flower-laying ceremony at the Freedom Monument, while from 12.00 to 13.30 Latvian school brass band parade program dedicated to the Independence Day of the Republic of Latvia will be held in Brīvības Square.

Meanwhile, from 12.00 to At 18.00, creative workshops for the whole family – “Create a green Latvia!” will be held in Arkadija Park and Latgale Park. Visitors will be able to assume the roles of foresters and gardeners, plant a tree or flowers in a pot, which will later be transplanted into their garden, backyard or forest. Participation in the workshop is free. On the other hand, from Latvian school brass bands will perform in both parks from 15:00 to 16:00.

Also in Vermanes garden from From 13.00 to 17.00, the creative workshop “Create a green Latvia!” will be held, as well as entertainment will be provided by the musical program for children “Tu esi Latvija” and other creative workshops for the whole family. During the event, you can participate in various creative workshops in Vērmanes garden – together with illustrator and comic artist Rebeka Lukošus, you can create your own White Tablecloth story, make your own flag or badge about blooming Latvia, paint flowerpots or cloth bags. The musical program consists of children’s vocal ensembles “Podziňa”, “Kolibri”, “Momo”, “Knīpas u Knauķi”, “Poppy”, “Dzeguzīte” and the musical association “BikiGRUPA”. The event will be hosted by actor Rihards Zeleznev.

On the other hand, from From 13.00 to 23.00 the “Splendid Palace” cinema will host the May 4 Latvian film marathon.

From From 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., the annual campaign “Put on national costume in honor of Latvia!” will take place in Rātslaukum, Old Riga. and the holiday concert “Different Roads”. The gathering for the folk costume procession through the districts will take place in Rātslaukus from 12.30, but at At 13.00, the opening of the festival will be held together with the group of folklore and ancient battles “Wolves”. From 13.20 until At 2 p.m., a festive procession will take place on the route Kalķu iela-Brīvības laukums, between 2 p.m. and 14.40 laying flowers at the Freedom Monument. On this holiday, we invite everyone to wear a national costume in honor of Latvia.

at At 15.00, the festive concert “Citādi ceļi” will start in Rātslaukum. The concert will feature soloists: Aija Vītoliņa, Atis Auzāns, Dagnis Roziņš, Katō, Mārtiņš Kanters, Raimonds Celms, Samanta Tīna, instrumental group: Artūrs Sebris (saxophone), Dairis Petrauskis (drums), Edgars Jass (keyboards), Gatis Priekulis (guitar ), Maria Vasilieva (accordion), Roland Stepanov (bass guitar). Musical producer – Uldis Timma. On the other hand, from 17.00 until At 18.00 there will be a concert by the group “Laimas muzykanti”, from 18.00 until 7:00 p.m. concert of the “Jauno Jāņu orchestra” group, but from 19.00 until 20.00 – concert of the band “Raxtu raxti”. The program will be hosted by Raimonds Celms, directed by Sandis Kalniņš. We invite you to celebrate the holiday together in person, but it will be possible to watch the holiday concerts online as well.

Meanwhile at At 16.00, the National Holiday concert “Latvijas Tautumeitas” will be held in the cultural palace “Ziemeļblāzma”, where the ethno-pop music group “Tautumeitas” will perform. Invitations will be available at the “Bilešu paradīze” box office from April 29.

On the other hand, at At 4:00 p.m., the youth choir “Voices” concert “Latvijai” will be held in the cultural center “Mazā gilde”, in which the singer Ieva Parša and the instrumental ensemble will also take part.

VEF in the Palace of Culture at At 18.00 the concert “Sounds (from) Latvia” will be played. Orchestra “Rīga”, conductor Valdis Butāns, actress Guna Zariņa, concert manager Signe Lagzdiņa will take part in the concert. Free invitations from April 27 at the “Ticket Paradise” box office.

The program includes compositions by contemporary Latvian composers, dedicated to the splendor of Latvia’s nature, the memory of prominent personalities, as well as patriotic feelings towards one’s homeland.

at At 19.00 in the cultural center “Imanta” there will be a concert program “The German. The flower. Yakovlev”. There will be poetry readings performed by Įrts Jakovlėvas, and music by Katrīna Paula Felsberga (voice), Agnese Egliņa (piano). In the concert program we will hear poetry and Latvian vocal chamber music with the words of our outstanding poets Imantas Ziedoņš and Ojārs Vācieš.

The municipality also invites you to view the exhibition “Gown of Honor” in the windows of the cultural center “Mazā gilde”.

until May 10.

From May 1 at 10.00 until May 6 at At 23.00, the documentary films “Esplanade” and “Tautas dējnieks Rainis” of the folk film studio “Gilde” will be shown on the “Facebook” and “YouTube” accounts of the culture center “Mazā gilde”.

Environmental objects in the city

As usual in May, the city will be decorated Presentation dedicated to the 34th anniversary of the restoration of the independence of the Republic of Latvia – red and white flags on street lighting poles, catenary supports, masts, flag structures and design structures, as well as specially designed design objects will be on display.

Three environmental art objects will be on display in the urban environment. In the forecourt of Ågenskalns market, the environmental design object “Radiation”, inspired by the symbols of the sun and light, will be on display, in Uzvara Park, the object “Svetku karogs” will be on display, the visual solution of which was created under the influence of Latvian signs, where the triangle is a sign of the sky that symbolically protects Latvia, or its flag, and wooden slats, painted according to the colors of the flag, equipped with chains, weave links with ornaments of folk costumes and their flag. On the other hand, in Doma Square, residents of Riga and guests of the city will be delighted by the environmental object “Latvija”, where you can capture yourself, your loved ones and friends with the name of Latvia in a photo.

Also, from May 4 at At 10:00 a.m. at the Freedom Monument, everyone will be able to participate in the creation of the annual object “Flowers Latvia”, filling the outline of Latvia’s map with spring flowers, symbolically beautifying and welcoming Latvia on holidays.

Since 2009, “Ziedu Latvija” has become a sought-after and integral part of the holiday, one of the symbols of May 4 in Riga. The large-format installation symbolically represents Latvia as a meadow filled with flowers by its inhabitants, creating a gorgeous and blooming composition. “Flower Latvia” will also be available on May 5 and 6.

On the other hand, until May 31, a conceptual campaign – the environmental object “Democratic Square” will take place in Victory Park. The environmental installation created by Erik Bož illustrates a democratic and inclusive society, reveals how, looking from different points of view, we can see the overall picture of an object or process. The environmental object was created with the participation of residents.