Foto: BB.LV / Лазерное шоу у памятника свободы.
The Riga City Council has presented the program for the state holidays that will be celebrated throughout November. The main events will take place on November 11 and 18 in the city center, Victory Park, at the Freedom Monument, and along the Daugava River. As the organizers announced at a press conference on November 3, residents and guests of the capital can expect dozens of cultural and commemorative events. The detailed program is [published](https://kultura.riga.lv/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) on the official portal of Riga's culture. Riga Mayor Viesturs Kleinbergs urged citizens to plan their trips in advance: during the holidays, there will be traffic restrictions, and some public transport routes will change. ## November 11: Torchlight Processions, Bonfires, and Concerts On Lāčplēsis Day, Riga will traditionally honor the memory of the fighters for Latvia's independence. At 15:00, a memorial ceremony will take place at the Sudrabkalniņš memorial, at the intersection of Slokas Street and Kurzemes Avenue. In the afternoon, candles will be lit at the Riga Brothers' Cemetery, from where a torchlight procession will begin to the Freedom Monument. At 18:00, a ceremony honoring the fighters for independence will take place at the Freedom Monument. After that, the participants of the procession will head to the November 11th embankment. At the Stone Bridge, a fiery raft will be launched onto the waters of the Daugava, and near the wall of the Riga Castle, a joint singing performance will take place under the guidance of the male choir Vilki. Throughout the day, an exhibition of military equipment will be on display near the Latvian War Museum. A memorial bonfire will also be lit there. ## Victory Park: The Sound Poets and Music by Jānis Lūsens One of the main events of the evening will be the musical program "Rīga, mūžības skartā" ("Riga, Touched by Eternity"), which will start at 19:00 on Barinu Street near Victory Park. The bands The Sound Poets and Juuk will perform for the audience. There will also be a concert presentation featuring music by Jānis Lūsens and poetry by Aleksandrs Čaks. The soloists will be Erika Eglija-Gravere, Raimonds Celms, Atis Ievinš, and Ingus Ulmanis. ## Where Else to Listen to Music on November 11 Concerts and themed events are prepared in various districts of Riga. - At 19:00, the concert "Zinu, zinu tēva sētu" will take place at the "Iļģuciems" cultural center, featuring actress Sigita Evglevski-Pļavini and guitarist Maris Kupčs. Free invitations will be available from November 4 at Biļešu paradīze ticket offices. - At 19:00, the evening "Dziesmas gaisma" will take place in the park of the "Ziemelblazma" Palace of Culture, with songs by the bonfires together with Roberts Ošins and Gatis Ivans. - The folk ensemble Suitu vīri from Alsunga will perform at the "Small Guild" cultural center. - At 19:00, the Rīga orchestra will present the concert "Nesu gaismu" at the Lutheran Church of Riga in Torņakalns. Free invitations can be obtained from November 4. - The concert hall Ave Sol will feature the program "Mijkrēslis" with the participation of the mixed choir named after Emīls Dārziņš, the Riga Chamber Choir Ave Sol, and soloists. At the National Museum of Latvian History in the Riga Castle, festive events will take place throughout the day. From 16:00 to 18:00, a lecture and interactive session "Symbols of the Latvian State" will be held at the "Riga Center of Jugendstil" museum. Participation requires a valid museum entry ticket and prior registration. ## November 18: Military Parade and Grand Concert at the Freedom Monument On the Day of the Proclamation of the Latvian Republic, the main festive events will again be concentrated in the city center. A military parade featuring the National Armed Forces, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Justice, and foreign military personnel will take place along the November 11th embankment. Visitors will be able to view military equipment at the Riga Passenger Port. The National Museum of Latvian History in the Riga Castle will prepare a special festive program for the entire day. In the evening, concerts will take place at several venues in the capital. At "Ziemelblazma," the Rīga orchestra, choirs, and soloists will present the program "Rīgas pastkartes Latvijai". A concert "Gaismā rotāties" will take place at the "Imanta" cultural center. A large concert "Edgaram Račevskim – 90" will be held at the House of the Riga Latvian Society, uniting 16 male choirs from all over Latvia. At the VEF Palace of Culture, a dance performance "Rīdzinieki dejo cauri gadsimtiem" will showcase a journey through the history of Riga's dances. ## The Main Show on November 18: Music, Light, and Lasers The central festive event will take place at Freedom Square. At 18:00, the program will open with the folk ensemble Vilkači, and at 19:00, the grand concert "Brīvības ainavas" ("Landscapes of Freedom") will begin. Performers will include Aija Andrejeva, Asnate Rancāne, Dagnis Rozītis, Rihards Mačanovskis, the vocal group Neaizmirstulītes, and the trio Oranžās. The evening will be hosted by Liga Zelge and Mārtiņš Bruveris. The musical presentation will be based on eight landscapes included in the Cultural Canon of Latvia. Each will transform into a separate musical and visual story, united by the image of a mighty tree. At the climax of the concert, the tree will be illuminated, symbolizing the state that has traveled from the dream of independence to modern Latvia over 108 years. At 20:10, a five-minute light and laser show will begin. It will be repeated regularly until 23:00. ## Staro Rīga: Four Evenings of Light Installations From November 15 to 18, the Staro Rīga light festival will once again take place in Riga. Every evening from 17:00 to 23:00, the streets, parks, and buildings of the capital will be adorned with light installations, audiovisual objects, and video projections on facades. This year's festival theme is "Unum momentum," which means "One Moment." Artists will invite the audience to reflect on moments that can change the entire world or the inner world of an individual. The festive atmosphere will be complemented by national flags on city streets and compositions of live fire near the Bastion Hill. ## Which Streets Will Be Closed The festive events will affect traffic starting from November 9. | Date and Time | Restrictions | | --------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | November 9, 20:00 — November 12, 12:00 | Barinu Street near Victory Park will be closed | | November 11, 17:00–24:00 | The November 11th embankment will be closed between the Stone and Cable Bridges | | November 16, 20:00 — November 18, 23:00 | Stopping and parking will be prohibited on the November 11th embankment from the Stone Bridge to Muitās Street, as well as on the parallel street | | From daytime hours November 17 to evening November 18 | The November 11th embankment will be closed to traffic | Public transport will continue to operate, but some routes may be shortened or changed. On November 18, public transport in Riga will be free. Unless otherwise specified, attendance at festive events is also free.
