As the week progresses, we will guide you through each day's festivities. Tickets are still available to many of them and some events are free, so everyone has the opportunity to experience part of the magic. Tickets are available for purchase on bilesuparadize.lv's Song and Dance Festival section.
The events listed here are not exhaustive – we have picked out a selection of highlights.
In addition, you can watch performances live on LSM and find out more about the Song and Dance Festival's 150th anniversary at the official website.
Friday, July 7
Band Marathon
Time: 11:00 – 23:00
Location: Vērmanes Garden and Esplanāde park
An all-day party in central Rīga parks is ahead. Instrumental bands of a variety of genres: folk ensembles, folklore, post-folklore and ceremonial music bands, will fill the parks with sound all day and well into the night. "Over the course of the day, visitors will be able to get involved in folk dancing or feel like they are at a true countryside open-air party," says the description.
Entrance: Free
Grand Dance concert "Perpetual Motion"
Time: 12:00 – 14:30 and 22:00 – 00:30; also July 8 at 22:00 – 00:30
Location: Daugava Stadium (Augšiela 1)
The grand dance performance is one of the centerpiece events of each Song and Dance Festival. The repertoire for Perpetual Motion includes 33 dances, 13 of which are prize-winning new dances, while seven are from Latvia’s Golden Foundation of Dance. 15 thousand dancers are to participate.
This performance will focus on the uniqueness of the regions of Latvia, and will "reflect the experiences, feelings and conclusions of those who have traveled around Latvia in different eras."
Tickets: EUR 25 – EUR 100
LIVE: LTV1, LSM.lv (July 8, 22:00 – 00:30)
Children's and Youth Ensemble Concert "I want to tell myself something"
Time: 18:00 – 19:30
Location: Hansa Platform (Hanzas perons, Hanzas Street 16A)
An event for the family, the children’s and youth vocal ensemble concert will feature the 10 best children’s and youth vocal ensembles from throughout Latvia.
"The performance will take us through the pages of a diary written by children, which will reflect the feelings, experiences and impressions of the events which matter to children over the course of a year, from the end of summer and getting ready for school in August to the culmination of the Song Festival in July."
Tickets: EUR 7 – EUR 12
LIVE: LMT Straume, LSM.lv
