PROGRAM
July 5, Saturday
8:00 AM – 4:00 PM – Sea Festival Fair /Old Town Market Square/
Day 2 of the Ice Cream Festival.
10:00 AM – SEA CUP 2025 in Beach Volleyball /Ventspils Beach Volleyball Stadium/
11:00 AM – 2:00 PM – Creative Workshops /H. Dorbe Museum/
11:00 AM – 2:00 PM – Creative Workshops /Craft House/
12:00 PM – 3:00 PM – Sea Festival Program /Livonian Order Castle/
Campaign “The Museum Inspires!” – mini concerts on historical musical instruments, themed workshops for families; solo exhibition by Aleksejs Naumovs “POLYCHROME”; exhibition “Bijin/Beauty” – an insight into the traditional world of women in Japan (private collection); Ventspils Museum’s collection exhibition “SKUNSTNIEKI” – the beginning of Ventspils’ art scene in the first half of the 20th century.
11:00 AM – 11:30 AM – Commemoration Ceremony /“To Sailors and Fishermen” Monument/
With a moment of silence and the laying of flowers, we will honor those lost at sea. The event will feature kokle player Laura Drēziņa and actor Mārtiņš Egliens.
NEW SECTION OF THE OSTAS STREET PROMENADE
11:40 AM – 5:30 PM – NEPTUNE’S SONG TO THE SEA – Main Stage /Square in front of the Theatre House “Jūras vārti”/
The daytime program will be hosted by National Theatre actor Kristians Kareļins.
11:40 AM – 12:45 PM – Welcoming Neptune and Opening Ceremony
Let’s welcome the mighty ruler of the sea, Neptune, and his enchanting sea maidens’ entourage with an impressive arrival! Accompanied by magnificent water jets from tugboats, they will ceremoniously sail into the Ventspils port. In honor of Neptune, musical and dance performances will take place—and who knows, we might even hear Neptune himself playing music and performing the resonant sea songs for the first time.
12:45 PM – National Theatre’s singing actors’ ensemble “AIRI”
A special program created especially for the Ventspils Sea Festival, featuring fun and well-known songs for everyone to enjoy.
2:00 PM – EVENING FOLK SONG PRELUDE
On stage, we will see several beloved Latvian artists who have specially prepared an introduction program for the Ventspils Sea Festival, previewing the upcoming “Gunta Skrastiņš Song and Folk Song Festival” taking place at Reņķa Garden.
3:15 PM – FAREWELL TO NEPTUNE
We will send off Neptune with lively and spirited music performed by the band “PIEMARE.”
3:40 PM – IVO FOMINS with his band
One of Latvia’s best-known rock musicians, gifted with a powerful voice and vibrant stage energy. You’ll hear favorites like “Nekas jau nebeidzas,” “Putni bez spārniem,” and other beloved songs.
12:00 PM – 5:00 PM – DREAMS AND KNOWLEDGE DOCK /Square by the Harbor Master’s Building/
LET THE DREAM SHIP COME TO LIFE – Every festival participant will have the opportunity to create a large-scale environmental art piece together with artists from the Ventspils Art School – the Dream Ship of Ventspils residents.
MISSION: CLEAN SEA! – Educational activities for children and teenagers organized by Ventspils Youth House and the association “Attīstības fabrika.”
FLAVORS WITH PROTECTION – An informational stand about European Union protected products, including sklandrausis, salted rye bread, Jāņi cheese, Latvian large gray peas, Carnikava eels, and Rucava white butter.
12:00 PM – 5:00 PM – LITTLE SEA WOLVES’ ISLAND /by the ship “Rota”/
Activities for children, tests and challenges for both big and small: “ARE YOU A TRUE SEA WOLF?”
Inflatable attractions and carousels at the square near the Winter Port.
12:30 PM – 5:00 PM – FISHERMEN’S YARD /green square by the ship “Rota”/
12:30 PM – 3:00 PM – Fish Soup Competition – contest for the tastiest fish soup.
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM – Band “STROPS.”
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM – Band “SPĒLMAŅI.”
3:30 PM – 4:00 PM – Ventspils groups “VENTIŅ,” “RĀNDALIST,” and “LAIPA.”
4:15 PM – 4:45 PM – “VENTSPILS BLUMĪZERISTI.”
Within the festival area, you can enjoy food, drinks, handcrafted products, and exhibitions from the Ventspils Art School plein air sessions.
If the catch has been good, smoked fish prepared in the style of Dzintars Zamaris will be made in the mobile smokehouse!
8:00 PM – 12:00 AM – EVENING SAIL /by “Jūras vārti”/
As the sun nears the horizon, the “Evening Sail” will be raised! DJ VENTO will take care of the musical atmosphere.
9:00 PM – TEEN ROSE & CJDJADRIANS will present their album “Venice.”
10:00 PM – Energetic concert program by the band “SINGAPŪRAS SATĪNS.”
11:00 PM – 6:00 AM – Sea Festival Afterparty /Nightclub “SILRAK”/
1:00 AM – Hip-hop artist IMEANLOVE
7:00 PM – 3:00 AM – GUNTA SKRASTIŅA SONG AND FOLK SONG FESTIVAL /Reņķa Garden/
The festival will feature bands “Lauku Muzikanti,” “Tērvete,” “Ogas,” “Bumerangs,” and the duet “Karakums,” actors Rihards Lepers and Jānis Paukštello, singers Andris Baltacis, Santa Kasparsone, Dainis Skutelis, Roberts Ošiņš, Inese Ērmane, Juris Ostrovskis, and other artists. Soloists and singing actors will be musically accompanied by Gunta Skrastiņa’s band “No Pusvārda” and the female vocal trio “Oranžās.”
Contests, surprises, and a dance party lasting until 3:00 AM!
OTHER EVENTS DURING THE FESTIVE WEEK
July 4, Friday
8:00 AM – 4:00 PM – Sea Festival Fair /Old Town Market Square/
10:30 AM – Family event with children in the spirit of the Sea Festival /H. Dorbe Museum/
7:00 PM – Summer evening concerts: ANNIKA LANKA at Concert Hall “Latvija”
9:00 PM – Sunset music evening with the band “MǬ”
/at café “VIETA, KUR būt.”/
July 6, Sunday
8:00 AM – 2:00 PM – Sea Festival Fair /Old Town Market Square/
12:00 PM – 4:00 PM – Little Sea Festival /Seaside Open-Air Museum/. The Suiti Cultural Heritage Society will visit the museum with special workshops, Suiti dances will take place, bagpipe and drum music will be played, Suiti treats will be available, and the folklore group “Laipa” will participate.
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM – Little, Little Sea Festival /Children’s Town and Children’s Park “Fantāzija”/
Liepāja’s traveling puppet theater MASKA will perform the play “Don’t Judge a Man by His Hat.”
