The market regularly features in lists of europe's best Christmas markets, though the Covid-19 pandemic saw the last couple of markets being cancelled, making the 2022 edition particularly welcome.
On the first Advent Sunday on November 27, the main Christmas tree of Rīga was lit to the sound of festive music and the Old Rīga Christmas market was declared open.
Iedegsim Rīgas galveno eglīti kopā! Pieslēdzies tiešraidei no plkst.17.00 līdz 18.00 un esi klāt Rīgas spožākas Ziemassvētku egles iedegšanā un Vecrīgas Ziemassvētku tirdziņa atklāšanā https://t.co/n1fRvbJSrV un TV24 facebook kontā! pic.twitter.com/QDvPFMDQOR
— Rīga (@RigasDome) November 27, 2022
"This year, the city is adorned with new holiday decorations, and the Riga Christmas Market is also back. Both in the center and further afield, beautiful and heartfelt cultural events will be held. We are giving the start to this time of big and small miracles right now – by lighting the main Rīga Christmas tree," said Rīga mayor Mārtiņš Staķis at the opening ceremony.
The market will operate until January 1st, and visitors will be able to buy various craft products and seasonal foodstuffs while enjoying special musical performances at weekends.
Meanwhile, a couple of dozen Christmas trees prepared by the municipality will also be placed at cultural centers, in parks and squares throughout the capital.
During December, 20 parks, squares and children's playgrounds of the capital will be specially illuminated by LED energy-efficient strings of bulbs with 3D stars, snowmen and other light design objects.
From December 17, every resident of Riga and city guests will be able to follow a Christmas light path located by the canal.
Events organized by the Riga municipality over the Christmas period are available at a special website: https://svetki.riga.lv/ though it appears to be available only in Latvian.
Printed holiday programs will be available from municipal libraries, cultural centers, municipal customer service points and the Rīga Tourism Information Center.
