The centre of the capital and its neighbourhoods will be full of Christmas surprises, including heartfelt concerts, a block-drawing ritual, a chance to meet Father Christmas, and a light-filled walk along the Canal Embankment.
Winter Solstice celebrations in Town Hall Square (Rātslaukums) and Imanta
On Wednesday, 21 December, from 18.00 to 21.00, the traditional block-pulling event will take place in the Old Town. The celebrations will open in the Town Hall Square, continuing along the route from the Town Hall Square to Grēcinieku Street, then along Audēju Street, Vaļņu Street, Kaļķu Street, Līvu Square, Zirgu Street, Doma Square, Jaunielu and back to the Town Hall Square. In the event will participate folklore ensembles from Riga and regions, pre-school educational institutions, primary schools and other collectives, everyone is invited to join!
Returning to the Town Hall Square, the ritual of burning a block will take place, and the celebration will continue until 21:00 with songs, games and dances, which will be provided by the folklore group “Skandinieki”, “Zeidi” and “Dandari”, as well as the Riga Dance Club. Visitors will have the opportunity to buy warm tea and other Winter Solstice delicacies.
On the other hand, from 17.00 at the Riga Culture and Leisure Center “Imanta” every participant of the event “Bluķi vilku vakarā” will be delighted by the group of traditions “Silavoti”, inviting them to participate in games, sing songs, as well as experience the burning of a block
Christmas Weekend Events in the Centre of the Capital
On Thursday, December 22, at the final event of this year’s “Vērmanes Fairy-Tale Garde” from 18.00, visitors will enjoy songs, games and dances, meetings with gnomes and Santa Claus. Children’s vocal ensembles “Momo” and “Poppy”, folklore group “Teikas muzikanti”, ensemble “Rīgas pantomime”, “VEF teātris”, choir “Senrīga” and “Jasmīnas koris” will perform at the event.
On December 22 and 23 Riga Anglican St. Youth choir “Voices” will give Christmas concerts in the Church of the Redeemer. During the darkest time of the year in the program “ТИХА НIЧ | SILENT NIGHT” will play music that will bring hope to those who are missing it a little at the moment.
On Friday, December 23, at 15:00 and 16:00 popular Christmas tunes for a positive mood will be heard in Esplanade Park in the performance of “Christmas Tuba”.
On Sunday, December 25, at 14:00 and 17:00 the “Christmas Mood” concert will take place in the Great Guild. Composer Jānis Strazds, instrumentalists – Māris Kupčs, Aivars Meijers, Māris Zīlmanis, Mārtiņš Zālīte, Gundars Lintiņš – and soloist Ieva Parša will create a Christmas mood together with the Riga Chamber Choir “Ave Sol”, while at 14.00 and 16.00 musical Christmas surprises are expected from the balcony of the Town Hall.
From December 25 at 13:00 to December 26 at 22:00 the “12 Holy Nights” event will take place in the territory of the Riga Lutheran Church. There will be a market, workshops and activities for families with children waiting for everyone: gingerbread workshop, photo corner, bonfires, silence room, charity tent, Ukrainian borscht, etc.
On December 25, the First Christmas, the singer Normunds Rutulis and the children’s ensemble “Kolibri”, the group “My Radiant You” and the musician Chris Noah will take care of the musical performance, and on December 26, the Second Christmas, guitarist Kaspars Zemītis, soloists, Riga Lutheran congregation choir, singer Linda Leen, group “Jorspeis” and children’s ensemble “Kolibri”.
The territory near the Riga Lutheran Church will be closed to traffic during the events and intended for pedestrians only. The furnished, decorated and illuminated area will be open for peaceful walks from December 24 to January 6 (every day from 09:00 to 22:00).
Christmas Weekend Events in the Suburbs of the Capital
On December 22 and 27, the concert “Christmas in Broadway and Riga” will be played at the VEF Palace of Culture, with the participation of the orchestra “Rīga” and such soloists as Rūta Dūduma-Ķirse, Juris Jope, Katrīna Paula Felsberga, Gustavs Melbārdis, Valts Butāns.
On Sunday, 25 December, at 14.00, the Riga Culture and Leisure Centre “Imanta” will host a concert with the most beautiful baroque and romanticism arias, as well as Latvian composers' music in Sergejs Jegers’s “Christmas Feelings Concert”.
On Monday, 26 December, at 15.00 and 16.00, the Dixieland band Sunny Groove Dixie together with soloist Marta Monta Zūdiņa will perform at the Ēbelmuižas park while the Second Christmas Concert “Winter Elegy” will be held in the Chamber Hall of VEF Culture Palace.
Several Christmas markets will also continue to welcome visitors. Gifts and festive treats can be purchased in Āgenskalns, Kalnciema Quarter, Doma Square, Esplanāde Park and elsewhere.
Festive decorations in the urban setting
Everyone is invited to visit the Christmas light trail of the company “First Service” (more widely known as the Christmas environment design brand “December Design”), the Christmas light trail – the territory from the Opera Square to Bastejkalns and Kronvalda Park, there are almost 700 light decorations and design objects, which will light up every day until January 16 together with the switching on of the city’s street lights.
This year, 26 parks, squares and playgrounds in Riga will also be decorated with special lights.
Also, the capital’s brightest trees shine in Doma Square and Town Hall Square. Additional 18 Christmas trees are placed at cultural centres, parks, and squares, whereas trees donated by the municipality are displayed in the neighbourhoods of the city and decorated by neighbourhood associations.
As mentioned before, the visual image of Christmas and holiday greetings have been created by Latvian artist and illustrator Anna Vaivare and the theme is to enjoy Christmas just like in childhood. The artist’s festive motifs and images adorn the city’s outdoor billboards and posters which invite visitors to experience the wonders of Christmas.
Further information:
You can read more on special Christmas advent events organised by Riga municipality by visiting svetki.riga.lv, and follow the news on the page of social network Facebook “Rīgā notiek”.
Printed booklets with the programme of the celebrations are available in Riga municipal libraries, culture centres, customer service stations in Neighbourhood Centres, and also the Riga Tourist Information Centre.
Information was prepared by: Raimonds Grants – Project Coordinator at External Communication Division of Riga City Council Communication Department, e-mail: Raimonds.Grants@riga.lv.
