To celebrate the restoration of Independence Day of the Republic of Latvia, residents and visitors of Riga are invited to attend various cultural events in the city's parks, squares and cultural centres, as well as to see a special urban decoration dedicated to this year under the slogan “You also matter”.
“While researching and looking for a prism through which to highlight 4 May this year, we came to the realization of the power of human unity – realizing it then and rediscovering it today,” says Mayor of Riga, Mārtiņš Staķis, pointing out that “Latvia could have been, because everyone took part in the restoration of independence and everyone did it with their own abilities and talents – artists, politicians, writers, musicians, farmers and many others – each of them was of great importance. And each one of us is important today – for Latvia's freedom and its prosperity.”
“Listening to one of the iconic songs of the time – “Green Song” by the Latvian rock group “Pērkons” – we stopped at the lines “What do you think/How much does one bonfire matter?”. And today we respond to that and say – it matters very much. Everyone matters. Every bonfire matters. You also matter. What kind of Latvia you build, that's what it will be,” points out M. Staķis.
To highlight the diversity and importance of Latvia's people, the city's welcome posters featuring black and white portraits of people by internationally renowned photographer Inta Ruka.
The city will offer a varied programme of festivities.
- Near the Freedom Monument – an environmental object “Flowers of Latvia”, brass band parade and ceremonial laying of flowers
- At 10:00 a.m. every resident of Riga and city guest is invited to participate in the traditional making of “Flowers of Latvia” at the Freedom Monument The spring flowers brought by people will be wrapped in a common outline of Latvia throughout the day. The finished “Flowers of Latvia” can also be viewed on 5 May. Since 2009 “Flowers of Latvia” has become a sought-after and inseparable part of the celebration, one of the symbols of 4 May in Riga. The large-scale installation symbolically depicts Latvia as a meadow filled with flowers by its inhabitants, together forming a colourful and blooming composition.
- At 12:00 a parade program will be held in the Freedom Square, during which Latvian school brass bands will demonstrate their musical and parade skills to Riga residents and visitors to the city. This performance by school brass bands is traditionally an integral part of the festival programme in Riga and has gained great interest and response as a very lively, colourful and positive event. At the end of the event, the combined orchestra, gathering around 300 young musicians, will play together the Latvian folk song “Div’ dūjiņas” arranged by Sergejs Austris Universs, “Vilku dziesmas” by Aivars Krūmiņš, “Kursīšu valsis” by Gunārs Ordelovskis and the march “Paliec sveiks” by Aivars Krūmiņš.
- At 14.00, a solemn flower-laying ceremony will take place at the Freedom Monument.
- In the Town Hall Square – “Put on folk costume in honour of Latvia”
- Celebrating the 33rd anniversary of the restoration of the independence of the Republic of Latvia, the Culture and Folk Art Center “Ritums” in cooperation with the Folk Costume Centre “Senā klēts” invites you to put on a folk costume in honour of Latvia and participate in the traditional folk costume parade, place flowers at the Freedom Monument, and afterwards to attend a festive concert.
- At 13.00 there will be a gathering for the procession in the Town Hall Square. We invite you to show off your folk costume by walking in the honour step, which will be performed by the LU dance group “Dandari”.
- At 14:30 the procession from Rātslaukums along Kalķu Street will lead to Brīvības Square, where at 15.00 there will be a ceremonial laying of flowers.
- From 15:30 concerts of the group "Auļi", Katrīna Dimantas, and ethno-folk group "TKP" will take place in the Town Hall Square. The event will be hosted by Ēriks Zeps and Zane Reitere and directed by Mārtiņš Kagainis. There is no need to register in advance, everyone is welcome to take part if they wish to wear a dress of honour in honour of Latvia.
- In Independence Square – Latvian flowers for the freedom of Ukraine
- At 11:00, supporting Ukraine in its defense of independence, the Riga City Council, the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia and the 4 May Declaration Club invites you to the campaign "Latvian flowers for the freedom of Ukraine", during which blue and yellow flowers prepared by the municipal company "Rīgas meži" will be planted in the pyramid in honour of the May 4th holiday in Independence Square. The youth choir "Balsis" will give a musical welcome.
- Concert in the Esplanade
- At 17:00 in the Esplanade Park we invite everyone to the great evening concert "I saw you in gold", where well-known Latvian musicians and bands will unite in a festive concert. The concert will feature Alice Joste, Goran Gora, the groups “Zāle”, “Čipsis un dullais”, “Laika suns”, and the evening concert will be closed by the group “Turaidas Roze”. It will also be possible to watch the concert live on the Riga City Council's Facebook account.
- The concert will be hosted by Edgars Raginskis, composer, culture journalist, editor of Latvian Radio 3 “Klasika”, and DJ Uldis Rudaks will take care of the musical interludes.
- Celebrations in Nordeķu Park, Vērmanes Garden and Latgale Park
- At 12:00 creative workshops for the whole family "Create a green Latvia!" will be held in Nordeķu Park and Latgale Park, and at 15.00 a concert of youth brass bands will be held in the parks.
- At 13:00 Vērmanes garden will host a game day for children, during which children and young people will be introduced to the work and personality of Imants Ziedonis in an unconventional way through creative cultural workshops and activities. Everyone is also invited to the creative workshop for the whole family "Create a Green Latvia!" and participate in the orienteering game "Ziedonis. Independence. Riga.”
- Movie marathon and documentary cinema
- The 4th May Latvian film marathon organized by the National Cinema Centre traditionally takes place in the "Splendid Palace" cinema as a National Holiday gift to Riga residents and city guests – free film screenings in two cinema halls throughout the day and an open-air screening at the end of the evening. The programme includes an animation screening for children, film premieres, the latest documentaries, Imants Ziedonis' anniversary celebrations, and the rhythms of Latvian rock music history. On the day of the national holiday, the National Cinema Centre offers free screenings of Latvian films in the Kokaru Hall of the Mežaparks Grand Stage, in the Riga Culture and Leisure Centre “Imanta”, in the Riga Culture Centre “Iļģuciems” and in the Palace of Culture “Ziemeļblāzma”.
- On the “Mazās ģilde” Facebook and YouTube accounts from 10.00 on 4 May until 23.00 on 7 May. There will be an opportunity to watch the documentary film “Savējie sapratīs. 60-tie Sākums.”
- A wide programme of concerts
- In the Great Hall of the Latvian Academy of Music of Jāzeps Vītols, you can enjoy the performance of the Riga Chamber Choir "Ave Sol" in the concert "Zeme",
- In the "Ziemeļblāzma" Palace of Culture, the "From Vītols to Pauls" concert will be performed by "Rīga" Orchestra,
- At the VEF Culture Palace, the group "Tautumeitas" will give a concert.
- In the Riga Culture and Folk Art Centre "Mazā gilde" there will be a festive concert "Savā tautā" with the participation of the youth choir "Voices",
- The concert "Your words are strong words" will be held in the Riga Culture and Leisure Centre “Imanta”, in which singer Igo will participate.
- Exhibitions
- From April 29 to May 7, you will be able to view the digital exhibition "Children Draw Latvia" in the windows of the Riga Culture and Folk Art Center "Mazā gilde",
- The National History Museum of Latvia and the Riga Art Nouveau Center will host various exhibitions and thematic excursions.
More information about the events in Riga on 4 May you can find all the National Day events in Riga on svetki.riga.lv, and follow the social media page "What's happening in Riga" www.facebook.com/RigaNotiek.
Information was prepared by: Mārtiņš Vilemsons, Project Coordinator at External Communication Division of Riga City Council Communication Department, e-mail: martins.vilemsons@riga.lv
