Festivals in Latvia: Ice Cream, Sand Sculpture, and Conversations at LAMPA

During these holidays, festivals are held in three places in Latvia – the “Ice Cream Festival” in Riga, the “LAMPA” conversation festival in Cēsis and the international sand sculpture festival in Jegalva.

“Riga ice cream festival” in Vermanes garden

Today, the family event “Riga ice cream festival” will be held in Vērmanes garden, representatives of the food concern “Food Union” inform.

“Food Union” notes that at the event, guests will be able to taste ice creams of various brands, as well as participate in free entertainment events.

Children’s dance collective “Teiksmiņa”, musical ensemble “Knīpas and Knauķi”, as well as “Būū”, “Prusax” and the groups “Citi zēni” and “Carnival Youth” will participate in the musical program of the festival, scheduled from 12:00 to 21:00.

The festival will take place from 12:00 to 21:00.

International sand sculpture festival in Jelgava

The 17th international sand sculpture festival “Summer Signs 2023” will be held today and tomorrow in Jelgava, on the island of Post, the city municipality informs.

At the festival, 17 sculptors from nine countries will reproduce world music hits in the sand. On the opening days of the festival, there will be concerts by Latvian musicians and a wide recreation program for families with children.

This year the festival gathers sculptors from Indonesia, USA, Mongolia, Spain, Netherlands, Ukraine, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia. The theme of the festival “World Hits” inspired them to express in sand art such world-famous compositions as “Hotel California”, “Somewhere over the rainbow”, “No Woman No Cry”, “Take On Me” and others, visualizing the feelings created by the well-known songs. The most ambitious work of art in the Sand Sculpture Park will usually be a demo sculpture created by Latvian sculptors Kārlis and Maija Īles. They were inspired by the composition “Yellow Submarine” performed by “The Beatles”.

Lauris Reiniks, “Credo”, “De Speakable” will perform in the open-air concert hall “Mītava” on Pasta Island today, but tomorrow the festival visitors will be entertained by “Very Cool People” and Paula Saija, the groups “Sudden Lights” and “Dzelzss vilks”. Both days there will also be a wide program for families with children – attractions, shows and performances. The park will be open from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Conversation festival “Lampa” in Cēsis

The ninth Conversation Festival “Lampa” will continue today in Cēsis, which started yesterday, offering a total of more than 300 events, informs the project manager of the festival, Irīna Kuznetsova.

This year, the program was created through the cooperation of around 260 different organizations and citizens – public organizations, state administration and local government institutions, companies, media, universities, political parties and others. There will be 55 stages and tents on the territory of the festival.

On the other hand, the youngest visitors of the festival have the opportunity to exercise both their minds and their legs in various activities that take place in the “MiniLampa” area.

However, for those who cannot come to Cēsis, part of the festival’s discussions can also be watched online on the festival’s website.

You can get acquainted with the full festival program on the “festivalslampa.lv” website, as well as in the mobile app. You can create your own festival program both on the festival website and in the mobile app using the “My program” tool.