In honour of Riga's 823rd birthday, magnificent celebrations filled with surprises are expected in the capital this August. Starting August 16, the festivities will take place in Old Riga, where you can savour traditional Latvian cuisine. Victory (Uzvaras) Park will transform into a magical realm of fire, street musicians will perform along the walls of Old Riga, and the “Rīga aug” (Riga grows) event will offer exciting activities for all those celebrating.
“This year, Riga’s birthday celebrations, marking the city’s 823rd anniversary, will take place across Old Riga. Events will be held along the November 11 Embankment, in Victory Park, Esplanade, and other locations.”
There will be something for everyone during the holidays—concerts, dancing until dawn, exhibitions, sports, and various collaborative creative activities. There will be surprises, culminating in a spectacular finale featuring lasers, a fountain, and a video show. Let’s celebrate Riga’s birthday in our homes, neighbourhoods, and throughout the city, filling it with conversations, smiles, and good wishes!” invites Laima Geikina, Chairman of Committee of Education, Culture, and Sports.
“This year, Riga’s summer will be celebrated under the slogan “Līksmo, audz, daudzini!” (Rejoice, Grow, Multiply!). It invites us to be grateful for what we have, to continually progress and develop, and to take pride in who we are! We will celebrate Riga’s birthday throughout August with a diverse holiday program. As the slogan suggests, there will be events for fun and entertainment, educational activities, and opportunities for citizens to get involved. I invite every Riga resident and guest to pick their favourite events and celebrate the holiday together!” says Baiba Šmite, Head of the Culture Board of Education, Culture and Sports Department.
“Riga’s cultural summer is an initiative that challenges both municipal cultural centers and independent producers to shape the city’s cultural offerings. Instead of merely responding to public demand, the goal is to generate long-term interest through cultural and educational processes.” It is a mission aimed at broadly enhancing the cultural awareness of society. Entertainment can take many different forms. We are just at the beginning of this multi-year endeavour. A journey that will demonstrate and showcase how creative and modern we can be together. My hope for both the near and distant future of Riga is a skilful blend of contemporary and traditional culture! Lai līksmo, aug un daudzina!” (To rejoice, grow and multiply) wishes the Head of the Culture Commission Dāvis Stalts.
Riga Taste Festival
Riga’s birthday will kick off with the Taste of Riga festival, which will be held in Old Riga for the first time. The festival aims to introduce Riga residents and visitors to the evolving flavours of Latvian cuisine—both traditional and innovative. It highlights that our culinary heritage doesn’t always need to remain in its original form or historical accuracy.
The celebration will be held in two squares in Old Riga. From August 16 to 18, the parking lot at Mazās Jaunielas 5 will be transformed into a street food square featuring a diverse selection of dishes. The top street food masters will gather to offer visitors an array of international cuisines, all prepared with Latvian-produced ingredients and infused with the Latvian flavor profile.
Meanwhile, on August 17, a variety of culinary activities will take place throughout the day in Town Hall Square. On this day, special attention will be given to sandwiches, highlighting our pride in our rich sandwich culture. Throughout the day, master classes and competitions will be hosted by the holiday’s presenters: chef Elmārs Tannis and Latvia’s top recipe expert, Pipars. Riga’s pantomime performers and musician Rudra, along with his team, will create a festive atmosphere.
On August 17, from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM, “Rātes pasāža” will host the artisans of Riga. You’ll have the chance to explore various craft skills and purchase items created by these artisans at “Amatnieku iela”.
Garden of Light “Cie Carabosse” fire installations
In celebration of Riga's birthday, Victory Park will undergo incredible transformations over two evenings, offering everyone the chance to experience the magic of fire and surprising changes to the familiar surroundings.
The live fire installations by the French artist group “Cie Carabosse” in the park will invite you to surrender to the power and magic of fire. Walk through a flaming gate, experience hundreds of flames, and immerse yourself in moments where the poetry of fire guides you into a dreamlike world.
The event will take place on August 16 and 17, from 10:00 PM to 1:00 AM.
XV 24-hour basketball tournament “Krastu mačs”
This year, the traditional “Krastu Mačs” will be held at the Esplanade from August 17 to 18, and it’s an event you won’t want to miss. “Krastu Mačs” is a folk sports event featuring a diverse entertainment program. For 24 hours, basketball players of different skill levels from both sides of the Daugava River will take to the court. DJs and musicians will perform continuously, there will be contests for the audience, and you can enjoy delicious food at the Flavor Market. The match will feature a game between actors and musicians, a match of actresses, a competition among influencers, and the traditional showdown between politicians. In the opening match, the basketball club “VEF Rīga” will compete against “Ghetto Family.”
Street music festival in Old Riga
On Saturday, August 17, from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM, Old Riga will come alive with the Street Music Festival. At ten different locations in Old Riga, passers-by will be entertained by both professional musicians and familiar street performers known to Riga residents.
During the holidays, in collaboration with the association “Tavi Draugi”, attendees will have the opportunity to make donations in gratitude for the musicians' performances. These donations will support Ukrainians both here in Latvia and those affected by the war in Ukraine.
“Rīga aug” event
The climax and grandest event of the celebrations will be “Rīga Aug” on the November 11 Embankment. On August 17, this event will feature vibrant festivities in honour of Riga’s 823rd birthday. Guests are welcome from 2:00 PM to join in exciting activities, enjoy musical performances, and take part in entertainment events throughout the day.
Throughout the event area, from the statue of Kristaps the Great to the Stone Bridge, visitors can enjoy a range of activities: write the longest love letter to Riga, take photos and capture memories in interactive photo frames featuring Riga’s landscapes, create unique prints at the screen-printing workshop, and participate in the creation of a street art installation.
Meanwhile, in “Mazais krastu mačs”, families with children will be invited to fun activities and the attractions will be led by Dante Pecolli, Ufo, Ainārs Ančevskis, Gints Grāvelis, Jānis Blūms and Lauris Dārziņš. The event will also feature a diverse musical program that is sure to surprise and delight the audience. Riga is growing, and so will the event’s programme, expanding in splendour and variety. It will begin with concerts for the youngest attendees and evolve alongside the residents of Riga, culminating in a celebration of maturity.
Starting at 2:00 PM, the “Ukulele” musical project will entertain the little ones. Then, at 2:45 PM, the audience will be delighted by the “Rīgas gaiļa stāsts” (Riga Rooster Story). Young festival participants will join in games, learn new songs, and dance alongside singers Eva Leimane, Katrīna Gupalo, and Lauris Valters.
In the afternoon and evening, the festival will feature performances by the humour rock group “Pirmais Kurss”, “The Sound Poets”, “Rīgas modes”, hip-hop artist Finķis with his band, and the indie group “Carnival Youth”. Additionally, a special concert programme titled “Rīgas sirds” (Heart of Riga) will delight the holiday celebrants. It will showcase a mix of old and not-so-old Latvian pop songs about Riga, arranged in new styles by Platons Buravickis, N`Works, Kristaps Krievkalns, and Jānis Strazds. These will be performed by singers Aija Vītoliņa, Paula Saija, Daumants Kalniņš, Ralfs Eilands, and Arturs Skutelis.
There will be a laser and fountain performance from 10:30 PM to 11:00 PM, followed by a party with DJs Toms Grēviņš and Zane Stocka until 2:00 AM.
The entire festive Programme will be free of charge.
Photography and filming may take place during the event.
You can learn more about Riga's summer and birthday events by visiting the website vasara.riga.lv, or by following updates on the Riga City Council's social media pages, “Rīga” and “Rīgā notiek”.
Information prepared by: Aira Ancāne, project coordinator, Riga Local Government Communication Administration External Communications Department, e-mail: aira.ancane@riga.lv
