From July 31 to August 3, Ventspils invites everyone to a vibrant City Festival, celebrating with more than 70 events across various locations. Expect lively concerts, the grand festive parade, a glowing street art plein air, the Book Festival, drag racing, a foam party for kids, a special culinary experience at the Street Food Show, and the Ice Cream Festival. The celebration will culminate in a spectacular riverside concert and dazzling fireworks display. These and many other events will transform Ventspils into the summer celebration capital.
Peace unites, the city inspires!
Thursday, July 31 – OPENING NOTES
18:00 | Pop Studio JŪRAS AKMENTIŅI – 30th Anniversary Concert
Featuring current and former students of the pop studio – Edvards Grieze, Roberts Pētersons, Katrīna Bindere–Čodere, Everts Riekstiņš, Kaspars Antess, Laura Lauze, and the band The Stones.
Guest artists – Jānis Aišpurs and Ingars Viļums.
Ticket price: €7 (available in advance at Biļešu paradīze)
Friday, August 1 – OPENING DAY
08:00–15:00 | Fair Market
/Old Town Market Square/
11:00 | Puppet show “Lotte Goes on an Expedition”
/Pārventa Library/
Ticket price: €4
11:00 | Meeting with poet Iveta Dārzniece
/H. Dorbe Museum/
14:00 | Opening of Inga Insberga’s exhibition “Roses in a Glass Jar”
/Livonian Order Castle/
16:00 | Opening of the exhibition “Between the Seas”
/Pārventa Library/
Artists – Sarmīte Caune, Aija Bāliņa, and Dace Saulīte
19:00–21:30 | Festival Opening and Ventspils City Council Grand Prize and Awards Ceremony
/“Latvija” Concert Hall Amphitheater/
Music by Everita Pjata-Gertnere and “Atklāti mūzikā,” hosted by Andris Bulis
Evening and Night Program:
20:00–24:00 | Street Food Show
/Old Town Market Square/
21:00–1:00 | Open Night at the Beach Aqua Park
(Ticket price: €8)
20:00 | Aivars Konutis “OneManBand”
/Beach Café “Vieta, kur būt.”/
21:30–24:00 | Concert Evening with Dancing
/“Latvija” Concert Hall Amphitheater/
22:00 | Duet Bel Tempo
Before and after performance by DJ Vento
22:00–6:00 | DJ J-ONE
/Bar “REVEZ”/
23:00–6:00 | Festival Preparty
/Nightclub “SILRAK”/
00:00 | Music by Rassell & Sabīne Berezina
Saturday, August 2 – FESTIVAL DAY
11:00 | FESTIVE PARADE (Lielais prospekts – from Katoļu Street to Brīvības Street)
Ventspils municipality and private city companies, services, and institutions will participate with lively employee presentations and equipment displays.
OLD TOWN
08:00–16:00 | Fair Market
/Old Town Market Square/
12.00–17.00 | Street Food Show – dažādu valstu ēdieni un dzērieni, šefpavāru stāsti, meistarklases, konkursi un balvas
12:00–15:00 | Book Festival
/Town Hall Square/
An educational, informative, entertaining, and creative event titled “Artificial Intelligence and Its Creative Expressions.” Featuring a book market, current topics, and discussions. The event will be hosted and musically enriched by actor, singer, and performance artist Māris Skrodis.
The “Escape Room” in collaboration with the Ventspils Digital Center. In the creative workshops, you can write poetry, create artwork, make masks, compete in chess games against AI, work with a virtual Lego builder, design your own robot friend or a symbol of freedom—a bird, paint vinyl records, and participate in many other exciting activities.
13:30 | Greeting of Book Authors
12:30–17:30 | FESTIVAL SPICES
/Skolas Street 1, courtyard/
A creative courtyard festival with an international luminescent street art plein air, music, and humor.
The 735-minute-long luminescent street art plein air “Peace” will feature both internationally recognized and local artists. Participating artists include:
Elementton aka Aleksejs Odnorukovs, Ramz Mose aka Emīls Rimkus, Dmitrijs Borodins aka Dimitry ARCH, and guests from Lithuania – Tadas Vincaitis and Rodion Petrov (Rodion Petroff).
Ventspils will be represented by five artists – Inga Insberga, Zanda Pudule-Indāne (@zandagraphic), Maruta Pļavniece (Marfa), and Ventspils Art School teachers Santa Dalbe and Paula Pundiņa.
The program will be enriched with activities by the Youth Council, as well as musical and humorous performances. It promises a flavorful experience for both young and old alike.
12:45 / 13:40 / 15:30 | Parodist Ernests Cimanskis
13:00 | Kapteinis Reinis
14:30 | Band YŪT
16:30 | Duet Flagship Romance (USA)
13:00–19:00 | Medieval chants I and medieval daily life
/Livonian Order Castle/
Medieval life and daily routines, combat technique demonstrations, and a weapons stand — presented by the historical reenactment club RODENPOYS.
14:00 | VOX IBERIKA – medieval music from the Iberian Peninsula performed by SCHOLA CANTORUM VOX IUBILANTIS
(Entry with museum ticket)
13:00–18:00 | Potter’s Days
/Crafts House/
Pottery wheel throwing competition and Folk class
(Entry with museum ticket)
LIELAIS LAUKUMS
10:00–16:00 | Radio SWH mobile studio
11.00–18.00 | Baltijas dizaina tirgus
12:00–16:00 | SportAnalytik test for children
12:00–16:40 | Concert “To Be in Music…” / Concert Hall “Latvija” Amphitheatre /
12:00 | Latvian Naval Force Orchestra
13:00 | Students, alumni, and teachers of Ventspils Music Secondary School – ensembles “Full House” and “Redīsi”; young musicians – Gatis Poriņš, Emīlija Jasmīna Švarca, Sofija Puzirevska, Ernests Brauns, Helēna
16:00–16:40 | Ensemble “NoFlash”
OTHER EVENT LOCATIONS
10:00–18:00 | SNOOPY Cup in 3×3 Basketball /3×3 Basketball Courts/
12:00 | Latvian Drag Racing Festival /Ventspils Airport/
The fastest cars in Europe. Special guests from Finland and Sweden.
14:30 | For the first time in Ventspils – MONSTER CAR SHOW. Tickets: www.aula.lv
13:00–16:00 | Terrace Festival /VIZIUM/
18:00 | Concert program “Dialogues” /Pārventa Library/
Performing: TOMASS ANČS (cello) and MARTA BALODE (piano)
OSTAS STREET PROMENADE
Large carousel park, craftsmen’s market, food, drinks
11:00–17:00 | Vintage Vehicle Exhibition – The Most Iconic Soviet-Era Cars
12:00–17:00 | Ice Cream and Treats Festival – sweet masters from all over Latvia gather in one place – experts in ice cream, treats, and delicacies! For the little visitors: colorful retro carousels, fun inflatable attractions, a giant soap bubble parade, face painting, colorful children’s tattoos, and beloved character performers.
13:00–16:00 | Strongman Competition – “Stokker Cup Contest.” Latvia’s top strongmen, along with guests from Lithuania and Estonia. The competition program includes 6 classic strongman events. Weight ball lifting contests are also planned.
12:00–17:00 | “Our Own at the Seaside Music”
Leader: GINTS GRĀVELIS
12:30 | ARVIS SANDERS, choir KAIVA, and accompanying ensemble
14:00 | ROBERTS BAHMANS with band
15:20 | Duet ELPO (Amanda Bašmakova & DJ Makree)
19:30–23:00 | Grand Festival Evening – Krastmala Stage
Hosts: GRABULIS (Gints Grāvelis and Andris Bulis)
20:00 | CARNIVAL YOUTH Greatest Hits Concert
21:10 | Film “Ventspils 700+35”
21:20 | Closing Concert “735 White Thoughts” – The golden collection of Latvian pop and rock music from the last 35 years. Just like our city from that reference point in time, these legendary songs will be reborn in new sounds. They will interact with international musical influences and blend with melodies created today.
Performers: ATIS IEVIŅŠ, ANTRA STAFECKA, NORMUNDS PAUNIŅŠ, HORENS STALBE, DJ MONSTA, YŪT, MUSIQQ, special guest – the voice of DJ David Guetta’s hits JD DAVIS (Belgium). Music by MC ORĶESTRIS.
22:55 | Speech by the Chairman of Ventspils City Council
23:00 | Fireworks
EVENING AND NIGHT PROGRAM
19:00–03:00 | Street Food Lounge
/Old Town Market Square/
21:00–24:00 | Night rides with the Mini Train
21:00–02:00 | Sledding Night /Adventure Park/
DJ, special effects, and rides on a lit sled track. Free admission, attractions for a fee.
22:00–6:00 | DJ Ziggy
/Bar “REVEZ”/
Ticket price: €7
23:30 | Night Concert of Spiritual Music /Lutheran Church/
Choir VENDA, ensemble MUNDUS, and choirs of the Baptist and Lutheran congregations
23:00–03:00 | RIVERSIDE NIGHT DANCES
/Ostas Street Promenade/
23:20 | Band MUSIQQ Midnight Concert
1:00 | Night Dance with the band APVEDCEĻŠ
23.00–3.30 | 23:00–3:30 | Festival Spices JĀŅTĀRPIŅU PARTY – GLOW VIBES /Skolas Street 1, courtyard/
23:10 | Opening of the glowing street art plein air artworks.
Visitors are invited to wear white clothing, which under ultraviolet light will make them feel like glowing fireflies in a meadow.
23.20 DJ MONSTA
01:00 | Hip-hop artist Sudrabu Sirds with LIVE BAND
02:30 | Ventspils alternative rock rebels – band BUKTE
Sunday, August 3 – FINALE EVENTS
Fair Market
/Old Town Market Square/
11:00 – 16:00 | Crafts Day
/Seaside Open-Air Museum/
12:00 | Potters’ Days at Ventspils Museum. Opening of the Kurzeme kiln.
Craft workshops and crafts market will be open, horse rides and mini-train rides available.
Concert by the band HAMELEONI.
Entry with museum tickets.
11:00 – 12:00 | Sunny Foam and Reggae Party for Children /Children’s Town/
A wild foam party with tropical beats by DJ HORENS
12:00 | Latvian Drag Racing Festival
/Ventspils Airport/
Tickets: www.aula.lv
15:00 – 16:00 | Sunny Foam and Reggae Party for Kids
/Children’s Park “Fantāzija”/
14.00 | Medieval chants II. VOX IBERICA /Livonian Order Castle/
Performed by SCHOLA CANTORUM VOX IUBILANTIS. Entry with museum tickets.
16:00 | Raimonda Tigula concert
/Concert Hall “Latvija”/
Composer RAIMONDS TIGULS will perform together with the string quintet of the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra and soloists. All tickets are sold out!
17:00 | Bards’ Concert
/Pārventa Amphitheater/
Participants include BRIGITA MADELĀNE from Daugavpils, SERGEJS STEPAŅENKO and JURIJS IVANOVS from Riga, while Ventspils will be represented by authors and performers ALEKSANDRS MIRVIS, TATJANA and JURIJS SAKSAGANSKI, and ALEKSANDRS SIVACKIS.
Special guest – multiple award-winning author-song festival laureate OĻEGS BULGAKS (Chișinău, Moldova).
EXHIBITIONS
Tree Costume Exhibition /Gāliņciems Library/
Exhibition “Between the Seas” – SARMĪTE CAUNE, AIJA BĀLIŅA, and DACE SAULĪTE /Pārventa Library/
Japanese Graphic Designers’ Poster Exhibition “Spirit of Peace” /Main Library/
Photo Exhibition by ULDA BALGA “View Seeker” /Theatre House “Jūras vārti”/
Solo Exhibition by ALEKSEJS NAUMOVS “Polychrome” /Livonian Order Castle/
Solo Exhibition by INGA INSBERGA “Roses in a Glass Jar” /Livonian Order Castle/
Ventspils Museum Collection Exhibition “ARTISTS. The Beginning of Ventspils Art Life in the First Half of the 20th Century” /Livonian Order Castle/
Exhibition “Beer Mugs” – Private Collection of DZINTARS OZOLIŅŠ and Museum Collection /Seaside Open-Air Museum/
Exhibition of works from the Luminescent Street Art Plein Air “Peace” on the night of August 2 /School Street 1, courtyard/
HOLIDAYS ARE SUPPORTED BY:
Ventspils valstspilsētas pašvaldība
Ventspils brīvostas pārvalde
AAS “Balta”
SIA “Bucher Municipal”
SIA “VIA”
SIA “Kurzemes granulas”
SIA “Bio Venta”
SIA “Hydraulik Bauteile Baltic”
SIA “TestDevLab”
SIA “Kalmeta”
SIA “Kurekss”
A/S “Diāna” – “Mājai un dārzam”
SIA “VK Tranzīts”
SIA “Ventplac”
SIA “UŽAVAS ALUS”
