In fact it will be something of a homecoming for the tradition: regional parades on May 4 started in 2012 in Rēzekne, and have taken place in different cities in the years since. Last year was the turn of Alūksne (pictured above)
A long program has been worked out, with things getting started at 09:00 with a service in the Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in Rēzekne. At 11:00, a parade of Latvian and foreign armed forces, the State Border Guard, the State Fire and Rescue Service, the State Police and the Young Guard will take place at the Latgale Liberation Monument.
The parade will be supplemented by an overflight – subject to weather conditions – and it will be possible to watch the whole thing live on Latvian Television and here on LSM.
After the parade from 11:00 to 16:00, it will be possible for visitors to see displays of the capabilities of the National Armed Forces and the units of the Ministry of the Interior in the parking lot near the House of Culture, while in the Rēzekne 2nd Secondary School stadium, you will be able to see informational stands of the capabilities of the National Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior's units and demonstrations by the canine specialists of the State Border Guard Unit.
It's not all military muscle, though, as in the festival park until 16:00 there will be a craft market and at 13:00 a friendly football match between the NATO extended presence in Latvia battle group and the Rēzekne municipality team will begin on the football field of the Rēzekne Olympic Center.
At 15:00, a concert by the National Guard Orchestra and the United States Air Force Europe Orchestra will be held at the landmark GORS arts center.
