On November 30 , at 17.00, an event will be held to light the Christmas trees in Rātslaukums (Town Square) and Doma Square.
On December 1, the first day of Advent, the Elves' Procession will take place in Iļģuciems. From 15:00 to 17:00, creative workshops will take place at the Iļģuciems Culture Centrer. At 17.00, the elves and their helpers will go to Nordeķu Park to light the Christmas tree and continue the celebrations with games, tea, and gingerbread. Musical performances will be provided by the "Christmas Elves Orchestra" under the direction of Laura Amantova and the children's vocal ensemble "Karameles" under the direction of Eva Leimane.
The Christmas tree will also be lit in front of the cultural palace "Ziemeļblāzma". At 18:00, visitors will be entertained by a musical program with fairy tale characters.
Concert programs
In December, the Ave Sol Concert Hall will present the concert series "Colours of the Seasons. Winter Lights". On the first day of Advent at 16:00 in the concert "Tomorrow it will snow!" you will be able to hear the senior women's choir "Amadeus" and the mixed choir "Senais kalns". On December 6 at 19:00, the concert "The Gift" will take place with the participation of the women's choir "Sapnis" and the male vocal ensemble of VEF Culture Palace. On December 7 at 17:00, the concert "The Star Cup" will take place with the participation of the women's choir "Rīgas kamerkoris", the girls' choir "Rīga" and the youth choir "Mīts".
On December 8, at 19:00, the Second Advent, the concert "Light. Birth" will be held at the Ave Sol Concert Hall.
On December 13 at 19.00, the concert "Heart is Waiting" with the mixed choir "Medera" and the Pavułs Jurjāns Music School Symphony Orchestra will take place.
On December 14 at 18:00, the "Christmas Star" concert will feature the "Motus" Chamber Choir, the "Impulss" Youth Choir and the "Pie upes" Mixed Choir. On December 15, the Third Advent, the concert "Peace Meditation" will be performed with the mixed choirs "Laudate" and "Skaņupe" and the chamber choir "Konvents".
The Riga City Council will host the First Advent Concert on December 1 at 19:00 at the Rīga Cathedral with the Riga Orchestra, conductor Māris Kuģis, soloists Gunta Gelgote (soprano), Artūrs Noviks (accordion), Jekaterina Suvorova (harp).
Also at 19:00, the Great Hall of the Riga Culture and Folk Art Center "Mazā Ģilde" will host a First Advent concert with Aija Vītoliņa (voice), Romāns Vendiņš (piano) and Jānis Stafeckis (double bass). T
On December 3 at 19:00, the concert "In December" will take place at the Small Guild, with the participation of the mixed choir "Mūza", soloists Ieva Kerēvica and Normunds Rutulis, an instrumental group led by Madars Kalniņš, and artist Anda Poikāne.
On December 8 at 19:00 a Second Advent concert will take place in the Small Guild with the participation of the songwriter Goran Gora and the pianist Toms Mikāls. The concert will feature songs with lyrics written by Imants Ziedonis, Knuts Skujenieks and Goran Gora.
On December 8 at 18:00 rhe concert "Christmas Oratorio" will take place. The concert will take place at the Lutheran Church of Jesus, with performances by the Ave Sol Chamber Choir, organist Vita Kalnciema, string quartet Sponte.
On December 9 at 19:00, the concert for families with children "Waiting for Christmas" will take place at the Small Guild with the participation of the children and youth vocal ensemble "Podziņas" and musician Lauris Valters. On the third day of Advent, at 19:00, there will be a concert "With the Silent Light of the Stars", featuring Trio Angelicus - Elīna Šimkus (voice), Ieva Šablovska (harp) and Sondra Lejmalniece (flute). The program includes music by Jānis Lūsēns.
Santa Clauses will also be caroling in the neighborhoods of Riga. On December 15, at 16:00, the Santa Claus Quintet will perform at Bastejkalns: Raivis Māgurs (tuba), Māris Zondaks (trombone), Artūrs Bērziņš (trombone), Aldis Siņicins (trombone), Edgars Vaivods (percussion). On December 22 , the Santa Claus Quintet will perform at Jaunā Teika from 11:30 to 12:05, and at Zemitāna Square from 16:00 to 16:35.
