For those who want to escape the city bustle and the many events taking place in Riga this weekend, and surrender to the magic of flamenco rhythm, music and dance grace - I recommend attending a concert in Spanish rhythms. On 17 August at Saules laukums in Saulkrasti, guest artists from Spain will perform - flamenco dancer Sandra Cisneros (Málaga) and master of fiery rhythms Francis Nunez. Dancers from the flamenco dance school "Duende" (Riga) will also perform. Free admission!
This year the Riga City Festival will be celebrated from 16 to 18 August, offering Riga residents and visitors a diverse range of cultural and entertainment options.
From 25 to 28 July, Sabile will celebrate its 15th Wine Festival, delighting both locals and visitors with fun, delicacies and wine in the town's streets and courtyards. The festivities will continue for four days, but the main events - the festival parade, dancing, tastings and street market - will take place on Saturday 27 July. Here is the programme, with the highlights I chose to note: from 09:00 - Wine Market at Rīgas iela 11 square; 11:00 - Opening of the 15th Sabile Wine Festival at Vine Hill; 11:30 - Festive opening parade from Vine Hill to the Fire Station courtyard; 15:00 - "Putotava" slide down "wine foam", an active and fun event on the "bobsled run" in the ravine between Pilskalns and Vine Hill; 17:00 - Wine tasting at Rīgas iela 1, Fire Station courtyard; 19:00 - Theatrical parade "Drunkenness passes, foolishness - no!", theme: "A storm tears the roof off Sabile!" Rīgas iela/Ventspils iela/Sabile Secondary School; 22:30 - Fire sculpture on Gallows Hill; 23:00–04:00 - Festival ball with bands "No Boundaries" and "Apvedceļš" at the open-air stage "Birzīte", admission Ls3
The Kalnciema iela quarter is a lovely spot we always enjoy visiting. It attracts not only for its architecture but also its special creative aura and interesting events. The markets are a regular and foodie-pleasing feature, where you can always find something to taste on the spot and take home.
Kalnciema iela thematic markets this summer
15 June 18:00–00:00 Night Herb Market 21:00–00:00 concert "Skroderdienas Silmačos"
22 June 10:00–16:00 Suiti Market 12:00–15:00 concert
29 June 10:00–16:00 Market and Song Festival Opening Event
6 July 10:00–16:00 Berry Market
13 July 10:00–16:00 Wine Festival
17 August 10:00–23:00 Riga City Festival
From 15 May to 2 June in Riga at St Peter's Church (Skārņu iela 19, Mon–Sat 10:00–19:00, Sun 12:00–19:00), the best World Press Photo competition photographs are on display. This is an exhibition that tours more than 100 cities around the world each year. Every year photographers, photo editors and press agencies from around the world submit more than 100,000 photographs to the competition. Exhibition admission: Ls3
Needless to say, the penguin photographs by photographer Paul Nicklen (National Geographic) were particularly captivating:
On 18 May 2013, with various events at Latvia's museums and exhibition halls, the three-year Museum Night cycle will continue, marking the national treasure and Rainis's three-coloured sun that rises now blue, now green, now red.
Last year's Museum Night 2012 was dedicated to the waters and the sea theme. This year forests will enter the cities and museums. Green - the colour of renewal and harmony - will dominate. On Museum Night all museums are open well past midnight. Admission to museums during the event is free.
Museum Night 2013 programme in Riga >>>
On Monday 29 April, International Dance Day is celebrated around the world, but in Riga, to welcome the occasion, this Sunday 28 April 16:00–17:00 the Grand DANCE Parade will take place. Parade route: Dome Square – Šķūņu iela – Kaļķu iela – Bastejkalns – Esplanāde. Every dancer, dance lover, dance enthusiast and aspiring dancer is invited to take part. Teachers and students from more than 15 Riga dance studios have confirmed their participation in the Grand DANCE Parade, bringing together at least 250 participants in total. The parade will feature Classical dance (ballet), Jazz dance, Modern dance, Contemporary dance, Contact improvisation, Indian classical dance, Capoeira, Tap dance, African dances, Baroque stage dances, Flamenco, Argentine tango, Belly dancing, Social dances, Zumba, Authentic movement, Dance and movement therapy, Street dance, Cheerleader show, Hip Hop, Ladies Style, Hoopdance, Show dance, Line dancing, Irish dancing, Cheerleading, Go-Go, Eastern dances, Strip plastique, Plastique, Latino dances, Salsa, Bachata, Children's dances, and of course Latvian folk dances and more.
Join us for the Great Sarkandaugava Clean-Up on Saturday, 27 April at 10:00, opposite the entrance to the Psychoneurological Hospital on the other side of the street, bringing rakes and other tools (pliers, small hand saws etc.)! Participants will be provided with work gloves.
The clean-up will take place along the banks of the old Sarkandaugava river channel, starting from Sarkandaugava Bridge along Tvaika iela. This is a beautiful but particularly polluted spot in the neighbourhood. During the clean-up it is planned to tidy the area along the water, collect litter, and thin out overgrown bushes that obscure the view of the water. Meanwhile on Tvaika iela near the bus stop, an experimental garden will be created, planted with annual and perennial plants - wheat, lupins and sunflowers - which have unique properties for purifying contaminated soil.
At the exhibition "Fashion and Textile 2013", taking place at Ķīpsala 19–20 April 10:00–18:00 and 21 April 10:00–16:00, there will also be a wide range of crafts and craft masterclasses. Every exhibition visitor will be able to choose crafts and craft materials that suit their taste, or learn to create beautiful things that will serve as both a luxurious addition to a costume, hairstyle and interior, and an original gift for friends and loved ones.
Those interested in the masterclasses organised by "Coats Latvija" must register in advance. Each masterclass can accommodate 10 participants, who will be provided with all the necessary materials. Other exhibition visitors will be able to observe.
From 19 to 21 April at the International Exhibition Centre in Riga, the 18th international textile, clothing, leather goods and manufacturing equipment exhibition "Fashion and Textile 2013" will take place, offering a wide-ranging exposition, fashion shows, a conference and a business networking exchange, as well as the latest spring/summer season collections and the young fashion designers competition "Habitus Baltija 2013".
"Fashion and Textile 2013" will bring together the most prominent fashion industry professionals, manufacturers and traders, as well as a broad range of end consumers. The exhibition has become an international communication and networking platform for professionals in the Baltic states, Scandinavia, Russia and the CIS countries, contributing to the development of the fashion and textile industry, as evidenced by the event's growing popularity each year among both participants and professional visitors.
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