Life with the Livs at open-air museum
The summer season at the Latvian open air ethnographic museum on the outskirts of Rīga is now open, with a special emphasis placed on the traditions of the Livs, a Finno-Ugric people native to Latvian territory. Summer season runs from May 1 until October 1.
The museum has this attractive gallery of the season's opening in the Liv style and the website will give full details of all that is on offer - though beware of the sometimes over-flowery prose employed on parts of the English-language website (example: "This feeling, without any reminiscence of contemporary man, may be vague, imperfect or too subjective though nursed by many and winnowed by time").
White Tablecloth Day
A tradition that was only launched a few years ago in a formal manner but has already become a fixture is a White Tablecloth celebration - an opportunity for families, friends and communities to come together to discuss past, present and future plans in a constructive and enjoyable atmosphere. Various events are planned all around the country on May 4, so if you see a table with a white cloth on it, feel free to join the discussion, as hospitality and openness are both part of the idea.
For a full list of celebrations planned in Rīga, you can check out this program in (Latvian).
Audiovisual spectacular in Rezekne
May 5 sees an award-winning performance of “Kalpotājs. Blumbergs. Kamēr…”, a unique combination of the visual art of Ilmars Blumbergs with musical pieces by several notable composers performed by the outstanding "Kamēr..." choir. It should provide an incredible sensory experience in every respect.
