"Christmas boom in Kuldīga"
On December 15 and 16 everyone is invited to visit the architecturally unique, historical city of Kuldīga for a "Chrismas boom".
On Friday there will be a market 16:00–21:00 at Kaļķu Street 14; cafes, shops, and cultural venues will be open decorated for Christmas; and a light performance will take place at the bridge across the Venta between 17:00 and 19:00.
On Saturday, the market will be open 14:00 to 21:00, the light performance on the bridge will take place 17:00 to 19:00, a puppet theater performance "The Snow Queen" will be on stage for the youngest at Kaļķu Street 16, and in the evening, 18:00 to 21:00, a Silent Disco with headphones will take place at the courtyard of Hotel Sīmanis.
More information on the Kuldīga website.
Dragging the stump in Āraiši
For those wishing to experience Latvian ethnic solstice traditions, a day full of those will be led on Saturday by the folklore group "Grodi" at the Āraiši Archaeological Park.
The event will feature dragging a tree stump around to collect all you want to forget this year and then burning the stump to get rid of it; torch making and marching, masks, traditional games, and a lot of singing and noise.
More on how to get to Āraiši Archeological Park on its official website. The event will begin at 14:00.
JAUNmarka 2023
From December 16 to January 7, the Latvian Academy of Art will display its annual exhibition of students' works, this year with the slogan "Find your art". The tradition of a grand exhibition of student art began 20 years ago around Christmastime.
The exhibition in the Great Hall of the Academy of Art (Kalpaka Boulevard 13, Rīga) will be open 11:00 to 20:00; on December 28 – 11:00 to 22:00 and closed on December 24, 25, 26, 31, and January 1.
