Ventspils, one of Latvia’s most beautiful and visited cities officially opens its tourist season with a wide array of events lasting all day and all night long. Many unusual activities such as a boasting contest, bicycle orienteering race, tasting of local Latvian culinary treats from the region of Kurzeme cooked by the Latvian celebrity chef Mārtiņš Sirmais attract people from far and wide.

For the 6th year running, the museums of Latvia are taking part  in an all-European event called Museum Night. During one entire night, museum doors all across Latvia will be open to the public. Apart from their permanent expositions, museums will organize  special activities to tell more and in different light about the profile of the particular museum.  

Riga's 20th annual marathon promises to be an exciting sports event. Some of the world's top runners will participate. Last year more than 8500 runners from 35 countries took part in the marathon. Anyone interested can take part in one of the distances of 42 kilometres, 21 kilometres or run the mini-marathon of 5 kilometres.

The year’s blondest event is organised by the Latvian Association of Blondes It brings together women with fair hair from Latvia and abroad for the world's most impressive parade of blondes. The festival also offers a Retro Blond parade of antique cars, a Marilyn Monroe look-a-like contest, a Blonde Diva concert and other events.

Attend the traditional medieval festival Livonia, Wendene 1378  and you will be taken back to the Middle Ages and its atmosphere with traditional medieval cuisine, authentic costumes and rituals. You can try your hand at archery and other medieval skills. 

The yearly market at Latvia Ethnographic Open Air Museum takes place during the first weekend of June. The Fair is hugely popular. Craftsmen from far and wide sell their art, such as textiles, wickerwork, pottery, embroidery, wood carving etc.  The ambience is further enriched by performances of folk dance and song groups. 

Each year in June, Latvia’s renowned National Opera marks the end of its season with an overview of the season's highlights, offering fans a chance to relive their favourite scenes or to see what they have missed.

 On Midsummer Night (23rd of June) Latvians celebrate an ancient festival of the Sun. In Latvia, Midsummer is called Jāņi (Jānis being Latvian for John) or Līgo. It is the summer solstice after which days will gradually become shorter till the winter solstice at Christmas. The solstices are a deeply engrained in the Latvian perception of Nature and their identity. In Jāņi night, Latvians eat Jāņu cheese, drink beer, burn bonfires, wear oak-leave and flower wreaths and sing and dance until the Sun rises.

Rhythms of Riga is a jazz music festival bringing together top jazz musicians from Latvia and abroad. More than 20 festival events will take place in various clubs and concert halls of Riga.

Those who like the violinist and conductor Gidon Kremer, the festival Kremerata Baltica will be the ultimate music experience.  This year Gidon Kremer with his Kremerata Baltica youth chamber orchestra will perform in Riga under the motto Music and power. The power of music.

An off-spring of the Latvian Nationwide Song and Dance Celebration, Youth Song and Dance Festival  will be held for the 50th time. Young singers and dancers in colourful folk costumes will perform at various venues throughout Riga. A highligth of the festival song wars and the magnificent choir concert at the festival finale.

This televised annual concert features performances by Latvia’s most popular 'schlager' musicians. During the event the fans vote for the best song which receives the Schlager Music Song of the Year Award.

This international Sand Sculpture Festival brings together sculptors from all over the world who designiand build unimaginable sand sculptures from the fine quartz-like Latvian sand.

The aura of the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque period is revived by world-class musicians  playing early music at the Rundāle Palace. Music, costumes and instruments from the old times come together in an authentic setting – the Rundāle Palace, the grandiose Baroque and Rococo Palace. 

A two-day festival for fans of hard rock music. Besides music, the festival offers various sports activities (sand football and volleyball, cliff climbing, bungee jumping, paintball, archery, etc.) which have become a distinct feature of this event.

Since the first fishermen’s and farmers’ festival in 1936, the festival has become a hugely popular event for the locals at the seaside communities and  tourists. The festival features an array of traditions and rituals all of which are performed this day.

During this traditional and popular festival held in Ventspils every summer, the Poseidon comes out of the sea with his entourage and opens a day to enjoy with lots of sea-food and music and dance.

By far the noisiest summer experience in Ventspils, this traditional gathering draws more than 1000 bikers from the entire Baltic Sea region. The meet will host a number of events, including a motorcycle rally, rock concerts, a Latvian card game tournament and karaoke singing.

This positively charged pop and rock music summer festival takes place in Salacgrīva, a seaside town on the border of Estonia. The synergy of the festival is amazing - Latvian groups and stars from abroad on one side and energized audience on the other - this festival is an ultimate emotional experience.  

Cēsis, a city with most impressive landscape, hosts an international arts festival synthesizing various art forms – visual arts, music, theatre, film, dance and opera. It is a unique blend of different forms of artistic expression set against the background of nature.

Baltic Beach Party is a spectacular party which attracts huge crowds (over 100 000 last year). It is a yearly event held in Liepāja, a beautiful coastal city. Baltic Beach Party is for those who love the sea, beach, sand, relaxed atmosphere, modern music, dance and of course - meeting people. 

The Ventspils beachfront comes alive with colour and activity during the largest kite-boarding competition in the Baltic countries, offering great photo opportunities for the curious.

A series of musical, visual and other events will be held as the city of Ventspils celebrates its 720^th anniversary. A new, 3-kilometre narrow-gauge railway line from the Beachfront Zone (Piejūras zona) to Adventure Park (Piedzīvojumu parks) will be opened during these days.

One of the most popular and longest-running summer music events in Latvia, the Sigulda Opera Music Festival, traditionally takes place outdoors, in the historic Sigulda Castle ruins. The festival delights its audience with performances by some of Latvia’s most outstanding musical stars, along with accomplished musicians and singers from abroad.

The Latvian opera diva Inese Galante, personally invites each one of this festival’s outstanding musical artists to share their music with music-lovers from Latvia and the guests. The festival presents music of different genres - opera, jazz, chamber music performed by soloists, choirs, orchestras, ethnographic ensembles and vocal groups.

This annual event gives an opportunity for young musicians to take master classes with expert musicians.  During the festival there are many concerts given to a wider public. The festival is organized by the Ventspils Secondary School of Music and the Ventspils Centre of Culture.

Splendor and elegance, power and sensuality - these are just some of the feelings one gets viewing a ride of antique automobiles and motorcycles ride through the city streets. The convention is hosted by the Antique Automobile Club and the Riga Motor Museum.

The Sacred Music Festival offers new musical surprises every year. The compositions performed also include newly composed Latvian music. The festival is hosted by the State Choir Latvija.

Since Riga 800th anniversary festival in 2001, it has turned into a tradition to celebrate Riga's 'birthday' every year with a colourful festival with an array of events in the streets, parks, courtyards and by the river Daugava. There is music and dance and games and food - all through the day and night.

The festival presents a range of creative puppet theatre shows and other innovative figural performances. The events are for children and adults. However, some shows are exclusively for adult audiences. 

In a city with a history of over 700 years, every street and square has its  own story to tell. So does Karlīne street in the quiet Ostgals neighbourhood. The Karlīne Street Festival is held every year to remind the residents of Ventspils about their historical heritage and traditions. In the charming atmosphere of the past centuries, visitors are treated to sights, sounds, tastes and smells of the legendary past.

The White Night annual culture festival appeals to different interests, tastes and age groups The festival features contemporary theatre, music, film, dance and visual arts performances - all in a creative atmosphere and free of charge. 

Forest of Sound is a platform for the newest and most daring music productions - challenging, provoking, exciting, surprising and also confusing - alternative take on music in all its forms. 

The beginnings of the Arsenāls film forum go back to 1986 making it the longest-running contemporary festival in Latvia. The film forum offers a selection of new films and time-honoured classics.

A new approach to an old tradition – a race for Gaz 24 cars, the most famous automobile of the Soviet era. There will also be races for other old Soviet cars and contemprary sports cars - the GAZ, VAZ, Formula Easter and Mondial models.

The 'Design. Future' festival presents expositions of the latest Latvian and international design. During the festival seminars are held by renowned design experts from all over the world. 

For several days in the dark pre-Christmas time Riga literally  lights up! Many prominent buildings and other landmarks of the city are covered in impressive lighting displays. Our everyday reality is shown from a different imaginary perspective with light and spatial effects. This festival is among the most popular among the residents and tourists. 

The wondrous sights, sounds and scents of Christmas markets throughout Latvia is a distinctly impressive dimension of Christmas ambience. Set in city squares and streets, these markets offer culinary treats, handicrafts and souvenirs as well as music and entertaining activities.