This year, the main events of Ligo and Jāņi Day in Riga will take place simultaneously in Grizinkalns, Dzegužkalns, and Mežaparks. The festive program will start on the evening of June 23 and last until dawn on June 24.
The Riga City Council has announced the program of the main events for Ligo and Jāņi Day, which this year will take place at three city venues.
The celebration will start on June 23 at 8:00 PM and will conclude only after the sunrise gathering the following morning.
All events will be free for visitors. Vendors offering traditional festive treats and drinks will also be present at the venues.
One of the centers of the celebration will be Grizinkalns, where a program titled "From Sun to Sun" will begin with wreath weaving, folk games, and an introduction to Ligo traditions.
Later, guests can expect a farewell to the sun, the lighting of a bonfire, and performances by folk groups. After midnight, the celebration will continue with concerts, dancing, and DJ performances until the early morning.
For those who enjoy traditional celebrations, the organizers suggest heading to Dzegužkalns. Here, the main focus will be on folk songs, summer solstice rituals, and dances.
In the evening, Ligo songs will be performed, a large folk ball will take place, and after midnight, all Jāņi will be traditionally honored. The program will conclude with a dawn gathering accompanied by folk music.
What is important to know: Dzegužkalns (Cuckoo Mountain) is historically considered one of the main places for celebrating Ligo in Riga, where the most authentic traditions of Jāņi Night have been preserved for many years.
The largest concert venue will be the Green Theatre in Mežaparks. The "Riga Green Ball" will take place here, featuring performances by popular Latvian artists and bands, including "Labvēlīgais tips", Aija Andrejeva, Jorģis Siksna, Ralfs Eilands, and other musicians.
The final part of the celebration will be the ritual of welcoming the sun, which will begin around 4:30 AM.
In recent years, Riga has increasingly organized celebrations simultaneously in several districts of the city, allowing residents to choose between the traditional atmosphere of a folk festival and a more modern concert program.
A detailed program of events is available on the website of the Riga City Council and city cultural institutions.
