Skiing
Sure, you can strap on your skis and go wherever there is snow. But if you prefer to take a slightly more beaten track, this weekend is your best bet, as cross-country ski tracks are opening throughout the country.
For Rīgans, the most awaited one is the new track in the renovated Uzvaras Park in Pārdaugava, which will be open starting December 2. Equipment rental will also be open.
In Rīga, ski tracks in Lucavsala, Zaķusala, and Purvciems near the 84th High School are also ready but there are no rentals yet.
There are also entries on social media reporting that trails are ready in Ogre (Zilie Kalni), Sports and recreation base "Smeceres sils", Ranka cardboard factory (Rankas kartonfabrika), and Jelgava's Ozolnieki Mežaparks. A useful group to look for information regarding cross-country ski spots in Latvia on Facebook is Distanču slēpošanas trases Latvijā.
Downhill skiing slopes are also open as of Friday or Saturday, for example, Žagarkalns, Ozolkalns, Riekstukalns, Sigulda City Trail, or Reiņa trase.
Xmas markets
The first Advent is also the time when many Xmas markets open in Rīga:
- December 1 – December 3: the Christmas miracle at the Āgenskalns market;
- December 2: Xmas market at the Kalnciema Square;
- December 3 onwards: Old Town Christmas market.
On Sunday at 16:00 the big Xmas tree in the center of the old town (Town Square, Rātslaukums) will be lit up.
Exhibition "Bits and Bytes"
If you're not that into the snowy and holiday scene, an interesting exhibition by Finnish artist Marko Timlin opens on Friday, December 1, 18:00 at the RIXC Gallery (Lenču Street 2).
"BITS AND BYTES is a kinetic sound installation consisting of 104 recycled floppy disk drives. By combining obsolete technology of the 1980s and 1990s with the technological means and aesthetics of the 21st century, completely new sonorous universes arise which sing with 104 different machine voices," says the description.
The exhibition will be on display until February 3, 2024, from Wednesday to Saturday, 12:00-18:00.
