The largest Christmas Light Trail in Latvia was opened in the capital on Friday, 16 December. Nearly 700 light decorations and design objects have been installed in the city environment from the Opera Park to Bastejkalns and Kronvalda Park, and will be available to visitors every day until 16 January from the moment street lights in the city are switched on.
“This year, during the Christmas season in Riga, we invite city residents and guests to enjoy Christmas just like in childhood. This year, the warmest holiday spirit in the capital is created not only by the festive decorations and illustrations by artist Anna Vaivare, but also by the festive events taking place in the city centre and neighbourhoods. The most spectacular Christmas Light Trail in Latvia is now available to visitors. Bright and expressive characters from Latvian fairy tales and other fictional characters will delight the visitors of the Christmas Light Trail,” says Riga Mayor Mārtiņš Staķis.
11-metre-high moon is the main attraction of the Christmas Light Trail
SIA “First Service” is Riga’s partner in the creation of the trail. The company is better recognised for its Christmas environmental design brand “December Design”.
“This is the largest light trail in Latvia, with so many light elements and objects in one place. More than 600 custom-designed LED light decorations and strings of lights are placed in the branches of the trees along the trail. Thanks to specially designed polished glass, each of the more than 45,000 LEDs consumes less energy than a conventional LED string,” says Kristaps Štobis, a representative of SIA “First Service”.
The Christmas Light Trail covers a total area of 24 hectares. The trail is divided into three sections, i.e. the Starlight Trail in the Opera Park, the Northern Maiden Hill Trail in Bastejkalna Park, and the Old Man’s Mitten Trail in Kronvalda Park, displaying most favourite fairy tale characters.
Hundreds of stars are installed in the trees in the Opera Park from Krišjāņa Barona Street up to the Freedom Square. A three-metre-high interactive star has been installed in front of the Latvian National Opera and Ballet building. On the other side of the Opera Square Bridge is the main attraction of the Christmas Light Trail i.e. the 11-metre-high moon, delighting viewers not only with its grand size and glittering strings of lights, but also with fairy tales and Christmas melodies. There is also a special two-metre-high viewing platform on which to climb and capture all the magic of this Christmas wonder.
The Northern Maiden Hill Trail is located in Bastejkalna Park from Brīvības Square up to Krišjāņa Valdemāra Street. In this park, the visitor is invited to find the key to the shining glass mountain and, accompanied by a glittering golden horse, to search for the top of the mountain. Ice crystals up to three metres high and the horse are displayed there as illuminated objects. The Bastejkalns Bridge in front of the building of “Rīgas Ūdens” is decorated with stars which also glitter on the water of the city canal.
The Kronvalda Park section of the trail, like the Latvian folk tale “The Old Man’s Mitten”, features nine large patterned light mittens and hundreds of stars. Three gloves are arranged in the form of a tunnel. A Christmas sleigh entertains visitors at the top of the hill next to the bridge of Kronvalda Park.
Light installations on bridges and in city parks, squares, and playgrounds
Since the end of November, new light decorations have been installed on Vanšu Bridge and Kalnciema Street overpass, i.e. warmly illuminated keys of Riga. Continuing the tradition started last year, 26 city parks, squares, and playgrounds are also decorated with festive lights. The festive atmosphere is created not only with LED strings of energy-efficient light bulbs, but also other light design objects.
You can read more on special Christmas decorations and festive events organised by Riga municipality by visiting svetki.riga.lv and follow the news on the Facebook page “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: Rita Plūme, Project Coordinator at Strategic Communication Division of Riga City Council Communication Department, e-mail: Rita.Plume@riga.lv.
