Celebrate Easter together in the capital city with a wide programme of events including concerts, workshops, swinging in Easter swings and other activities.
Riga in festive decoration
This Easter, the city will be decorated with special decorations. The urban posters and billboards of this year are designed by the young generation artist Zahars Purvišķis, who is active in design, illustration, street art and art installations. The Easter design of this year is based on the Latvian folk proverb "Round as a willow-catkin, healthy as a radish" - a saying rooted in the traditional Easter wish, symbolising a cosy, harmonious, strong and healthy person. The artist's interpretation of the posters depicts spring-like, joyful and healthy citizens of Riga in their everyday work and travels - images that interact with the Easter attributes of nature, eggs and willow-catkins.
The Bastejkalns slope, Livu Square, Uzvaras Park and six places near important traffic arteries will be decorated with Easter-themed environmental objects. Enjoy the new springtime environmental objects "Mūsmājas" in Doma Square. The first Easter design objects in the city environment - Bastejkalns, Līvu Square and Uzvaras Park - are planned to be placed from 7 April, and in Doma laukums - from 14 April.
Good Friday concerts
On Good Friday, 18 April, at 17.00, the concert "Zemīši familiy at the Easter time" will take place at the Culture Palace "Ziemeļblāzma" Kaspars Zemītis and his family will perform original songs from the new studio album "I have only one heart” ["Man ir tikai viena sirds"] by the musical group "Zemītis and his sons”. Free invitations from 7 April www.bilesuparadize.lv.
In its turn, the orchestra "Rīga", Riga Chamber Choir "Ave Sol", conductor Andris Veismanis, will take part in the Good Friday concert at St John's Church at 19.00. After the opening words by Pastor Aivars Smuidris, the premiere of Stabat Mater by Uģis Prauliņš for choir and brass band will take place. It is a story about attitudes, about reverence for life, and about the destruction of peoples and cultures. Free invitations will become available on 11 April, in ‘Biļešu paradīze’ outlets and at www.bilesuparadize.lv.
Easter swing
This year, the main Easter activity - swinging - will be organised at four locations in the city - Doma Square, Town Hall Square [Rātslaukums], Līvu Square and Bastejkalns. The real Easter swing will be available on 20 April and 21 April from 10.00 to 20.00.
Workshops for families and children
On 19 April and 20 April between 11.30-13.30 and 15.00-17.00, the Riga Porcelain Museum will host creative workshops "Easter", starting with a lecture on Latvian porcelain cutlery and small plastic, and the history of ceramic tiles. Free entry in the event. Advance booking by phone +371 26406354.
In its turn at the museum “Riga Art Nouveau Centre” on 19 April between 12.00-13.00, 13.30-14.30 and 15.00-16.00 Easter egg dyeing workshops will be held, where under the guidance of knowledgeable craftsmen you will learn various techniques of decorating the symbol of fertility and life - the egg. Workshop participants will learn to paint with both natural and decorative materials. Entrance and participation in the workshop with museum entrance ticket. Advance booking by phone +371 67181465 or email jugendstils@riga.lv.
On 20 April, the museum "Riga Art Nouveau Centre" will host a concert "Come, Come, Easter!", in which the Easter songs and games by musician and educator Baiba Ērgle will delight both children and adults. Entrance with museum entrance ticket.
Easter celebration in the neighbourhoods
On 20 April, from 12.00, in keeping with Latvian folk traditions, residents of the neighbourhoods of Pārdaugava are invited to gather at the cultural centre "Imanta" to celebrate the arrival of spring, take part in festive activities - egg dyeing and cooking master classes, metal forging workshop, ancient Latvian games, as well as enjoy the Riga Dance Club games and a concert by the post-folklore group "Kaligo" in the courtyard of the cultural centre "Imanta". The youngest visitors will enjoy meeting real rabbits and swinging!
In Uzvaras Park, Easter rituals and games with the folklore group "Skandinieki" are planned from 11.00, and at 12.00 an Easter morning with Richie Roe and friends for the little Easter celebrants. In Uzvaras Park, you will also be able to hear the poetry of Imants Ziedonis and Knuts Skujenieks performed by Goran Gora at 13.30, while at 14.00 the post-folk band "Madara", which, under the leadership of cellist and songwriter Madara Fogelmane, combines several professional musicians and sticks to mythical nature moods in its repertoire, will offer a synthesis of traditional and contemporary in its music. At 15.00, the band "Rahu the Fool" will perform in a cosy retro atmosphere, combining folk music with improvisations. At 16.00, the group "Jauno Jāņu orķestris" will present original songs with folk lyrics by Juris Kaukulis.
There will also be an Easter swing and various creative workshops for families and children - egg decorating, creating Easter symbols and characters from natural materials; each visitor will be able to create their own special Easter egg and bunny.
At 16.00, the Centre for Culture and Folk Art "Small Guild" will host the Easter concert "The Coming of the Light" with Ilze Ozoliņa (piano), Marlēna Keine (soprano), Kalvis Kalniņš (baritone). The musicians want to express a hope based on faith - this is not the twilight of dusk, but the twilight of dawn. Entry free of charge.
Easter event "Ola-la!" In Mežaparks Park
On 21 April, from 12.00, in the Kokari Hall and outdoor area of the Mežaparks Grand Stage, we will celebrate the Second Easter with educational, entertaining, sporting and family activities.
The event will open with the science show "Laboratorium", with demonstrations of physics and chemistry experiments. Visitors will be invited to make slides in the Easter spirit, as well as to swing, paint eggs and take part in various workshops. There will be games and dances with the folklore group "Teikas muzikanti". The Easter picnic programme will be hosted by Katrīna Feldmane. At the end of the festivities at 15.00 in the Kokari Hall you will have the opportunity to listen to a concert by the Biruta Ozoliņa Trio.
At 14.00, a masterclass for children with the illusionist Edžus Kauke will take place at the Culture Palace "Ziemeļblāzma". At 15.00 Concert "Musical Illusions for the Second Easter".
Free invitations from on 14 March, in “Biļešu paradīze” booking-offices and at www.bilesuparadize.lv
Easter events in Riga will end at 18.00 at Riga St. John's Church, where excerpts from George Frideric Handel's oratorio "Messiah" will be performed under the artistic direction of Andris Veismans. The concert will feature the Riga Chamber Choir "Ave Sol", the Vidzeme Chamber Orchestra and the choir soloists, who together will create an unforgettable musical journey. Free entry in the concert.
Further information: Tatjana Smirnova, Project Coordinator of the Department of External Communication of the Communication Department of the Riga Municipality, e-mail: tsmirnova11@riga.lv
