Let’s celebrate Independence Day! – Jelgava

At 12:30 p.m., the opening of the book “War, love, freedom” will take place in the Gederts Elias Jelgava Museum of History and Art. Katrīna Čakste-Vilsone, the granddaughter of the first Latvian President Jānis Čakste, author of the book, will also take part in the event. The book tells about a woman who was destined to be born in the family of Konstantin Čakste, the son of the President of Latvia. The war and her father’s arrest radically changed the life of little Katrīna – the author of the book tells about how the mother and her two daughters fled from Latvia, first to Sweden, then to the USA, without the hope of ever meeting her family and returning to Latvia. It is the story of the life of a strong personality with her priest husband.

Freedom relays have become an integral tradition of the Independence Day of the Republic of Latvia in Jelgava, in which anyone interested is invited to participate. Freedom relays are a great opportunity for physical activity together with family, friends, colleagues, as well as a good way to promote local patriotism and show that our hearts belong to our Latvia. The relays will take place on May 4 at 1 p.m., the meeting will be at Hercoga Jēkab Square from 12 p.m. Both Jelgava school teams and other interested parties in the general group are invited to participate in the freedom relays. Anyone who wants to compete in this group (groups of friends, work groups, etc.), making up a team of eight members, of which at least two are women. The members of the general group must send the application by May 2 at 5 p.m. to [email protected]. The distance will lead along the Great Street, and its total length is about 1.4 kilometers. The start and finish will be at the intersection of Uzvaras and Lielas streets, the turn – at the intersection of Pēteras and Lielas streets.

It is important that during the run, traffic will be closed on Lielaja Street from Pulkveža Oskars Kalpak Street to Akadēmijas Street, Pulkveža Brieža Street from Krišjāņa Barona Street to Lielajai Street, Pētera Street from Lielas Street to Svētes Street, Mātera Street from K.Barona Street streets to Lielajai iela. Also, during this time, residents are prohibited from parking vehicles on the sides of Liela Street. During the run, bus stops “Centrs” and “Mātera uz Lielas” on Lielaja Street will also be closed in both directions. City buses will go around the closed section of the street on detours.

On the other hand, enriching the urban environment with an educational opportunity to find out historically significant facts, in cooperation with the museum at the Competence Development Center of the Zemgale region, visitors will have access to the informative open-air exhibition “The 1st Saeima Elections of the Republic of Latvia. Deputies elected from the Zemgale electoral district”, who will introduce historical evidence through various facts and photographs at the stands.

But at 3 p.m., a festive concert is scheduled in Herzog Jēkab Square, which will be available to the citizens free of charge, and other events.

In order to provide the citizens of Jelgava with the opportunity to attend the festive events, on May 4, you will be able to travel on city route buses for free.

The event visitor agrees to be filmed and photographed. Recorded material may be broadcast, reproduced and distributed without restriction. Detailed information on the processing of personal data in Jelgava Municipality is available HERE.