By the time the festival drew to a close on Tuesday night, almost 500,000 spectators had taken in the wide variety of light installations, demonstrations and optical illusions, all taking place against dark Baltic skies as winter approaches.
"Over five days almost 500,000 spectators attended, which is is an absolute record for the festival," a council press statement said.
On November 18 alone, which was a national holiday and featured a spectacular fireworks display on the banks of the River Dauagava, around 100,000 people were in attendance, the council said.
Certainly, it seemed to the naked eye that Staro Riga was more popular than ever with families exploring their city late into the night throughout the festival and many businesses benefiting from the fruits of extended opening hours as a result.
