This year, the national holiday month will be celebrated under the motto "My Latvia. My Responsibility". On the 106th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Latvia and on the Lačplēsis Day, Riga has prepared a diverse programme of cultural events. Furthermore, this year, after a five-year pause, the "Staro Rīga" light festival will return to Riga and will welcome the residents of Riga from 15 to 18 November, Riga City Council representatives announced at a press conference on Thursday, 31 October.
"November is a special month for Latvia – historically it is the month of battles fought and victories won, whose participants, including the fallen, we remember forever, and the birth of our country, to whose founders we are eternally grateful for our Latvia. During Patriotism Month, the streets of Riga will see large-format posters with the originally created motto of the National Armed Forces and the National Guard and now widely appreciated by the public – "My Latvia. My Responsibility". In a few words, it symbolises the most important thing – we, individually and collectively, are building our Latvia. I wish you a month of Latvian celebrations filled with love for our country," said Vilnis Ķirsis, Chairman of the Riga City Council.
Commemoration event at Sudrabkalniņš, ceremonial changing of the guard of honour and extensive concert programme at Uzvaras Park
Traditionally, the ecumenical service at the Riga City Council will officially begin the Lāčplēsis Day celebrations. From 12:00 to 12:30, the National Armed Forces (NAF) will hold a ceremonial change of guard of honour ceremony at the Freedom Monument, where those gathered will be able to watch a special programme of the newly created this year NAF Headquarters Band and the National Defence Service Soldiers' Defile programme.
A commemorative event dedicated to the Lāčplēsis Day will take place from 15:00 to 16:00 at Sudrabkalniņš (at the intersection of Slokas Street and Kurzemes Prospect). The event will feature performances by the NAF Headquarters Wind Instrument Band, Riga Cathedral Girls' Choir "Tiara", representatives of the National Guard Student Infantry Battalion and the local municipality. The traditional torchlight procession will start at 16:00 at the Riga Brethren Cemetery, which this year will also be held under the motto "The Spirit of the Freedom Fighters Through the Ages". Anyone who wishes to join the procession is welcome to do so. As every year, during the procession there will be a tribute to the freedom fighters at the Freedom Monument, and at the end of the procession, which this year is planned at 18:40, a fire raft will be launched into the Daugava near the Akmens Bridge.
Also on Lāčplēsis Day, in honour of the fallen freedom fighters, Riga residents are invited to attend concerts in cultural centres – at 19:00 the concert "Mirdzot šķēpiem" will take place in the culture and art centre "Small Guild", the event "With an Undying Flame in Your Heart" will take place in the park square of the Culture Palace "Ziemeļblāzma", and the concert "Torch" in memory of the defenders of the homeland will be performed by the Orchestra "Rīga" in the Riga City Hall.
One of the central municipal events will take place in Uzvaras Park. On 11 November at 18:30 there will be a ceremonial flag-raising, speeches and a musical performance.
The event "Calling Across the Daugava" will feature music by the cello group "Melo M", the contemporary music group "Tautumeitas", the drum and bagpipe collective "Auļi", and at the end of the event visitors will have the opportunity to experience the live premiere of the project "Listen to the Blizzard of the Souls". When the film "Blizzard of the Souls" came to the audience, its creators wanted to once again honour the songs of the Latvian Riflemen, reminding how much strength and self-affirmation of the nation is contained in these songs. At the culmination of the Lāčplēsis Day concert, visitors will have the opportunity to hear the songs of this project performed live for the first time.
The Lāčplēša Day events will end with a concert at 20:00 at Riga St. John's Church by the youth choir "Balsis". It will include the cantata "Dievs, Tava zeme deg!" .
Flower-laying ceremony at the Freedom Monument, parade of the National Armed Forces and laser light performance
On the 106th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Latvia, on 18 November, at 10:30, a solemn flower-laying ceremony will take place at the Freedom Monument. One of the central events of the Independence Day will be the parade of the National Armed Forces, which, as always, will take place on the 11 November Embankment. It starts at 13:30.
Various concerts are also planned to celebrate Latvia's birthday. VEF Culture Palace will host a concert "Latvian Sound Paintings" with the participation of the Orchestra "Rīga". The "Ave Sol" concert hall will host the concert "YOU Remain in My Mind…" featuring the Emīls Dārziņš Mixed Choir, the Cantata Woodwind Ensemble and the String Quartet. The Great Hall of the Culture Palace "Ziemeļblāzma" will host a festive concert by the group "Carnival Youth".
In the evening, at 19:00, a festive event dedicated to the anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Latvia will take place at Brīvības Square, which will start with a concert featuring Ginta Krievkalna, Grēta Grantiņa, Andris Ērglis and Raimonds Celms. Afterwards, at 20:00, the President of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs will address the audience, the Latvian national anthem will be played, and at the end of the event everyone will enjoy a laser light performance (repeated several times per hour until 23:00).
After the solemn event, at 21:00, the public is invited to the Culture and Folk Art Centre "Small Guild", where the festive concert "Latvijas ziedonī" will take place with the participation of the youth choir "Balsis", pianist Ieva Dzērve and an instrumental ensemble.
During the month of festivities, various exhibitions, creative workshops and events will take place in the neighbourhoods of Riga. Free entry to all events. The full event programme can be found at www.kultura.riga.lv.
"Staro Rīga" light festival returns
The "Staro Rīga" light festival returns to give everyone the opportunity to celebrate Latvia's birthday in a unique illuminated atmosphere. This year's festival theme is "A Time of Light", highlighting the role of light as a unifying and hopeful force in society. This will be the thirteenth time that the "Staro Rīga" light festival will take place during four days from 15 to 18 November every evening from 17:00 to 23:00. This year it will be implemented on the route Freedom Square-Latviešu strēlnieku square- National Library of Latvia-Arkādijas Park. "More information www.staroriga.lv.
Information was prepared by: Ineta Miglāne, Project Coordinator, External Communication Division of the Riga City Council, email: ineta.miglane@riga.lv.
