Old Riga Christmas Fair (December & January)

Dome Square26.11.2016 – 06.01.2017

Christmas is approaching, and one of the signs testifying to this is the Old Town Christmas Fair with sweet-smelling mulled wine, roasted almonds, glittering glazed gingerbread and local handcraft. Visitors will have a chance to find their Christmas miracle here every day. Various concerts and workshops are on the programme, with Santa Claus entertaining kids and adults alike.

All those loving delicious food will be delighted at the traditional treats – mulled wine, gingerbread, roasted almonds, Christmas tea and coffee, as well as delicious smoked meats and meat products. The fair will also offer a wide range of Latvian handcraft for Christmas gifts – patterned mittens, skillfully turned wooden candlesticks, jarred sunny-smelling Latvian honey, sweet-smelling wax candles, handmade warm socks, hats and scarfs, amber and silver jewellery, ecological wooden toys and rag bears…

Along with food and handcraft, you will have an opportunity to learn more about various Latvian traditions, for example, log dragging and traditional Christmas cooking. Latvian Christmas songs and world-known melodies will be performed by pop music bands and traditional ensembles.

27.11. – 17.00 Lighting of the Christmas tree and opening of the Christmas Market
Performances by children’s vocal ensemble Momo of the VEF Culture Palace, singer Andris Ērglis; songs from the musical performance Father Christmas Glove will be sung by Samanta Tīna and Atis Auzāns. Story-teller: Jānis Skanis.

02.12. – 17.30 – 19.30 DJ Toms Grēviņš;

03.12. – 13.00 – 14.00 Dita Belicka’s Trio;
14.30 – 15.30 Post-folk band Dziit;
16.00 – 18.00 Riga Folk dance Club;
Between the performances fun and games together with Dwarfs;

04.12. – 14.30 – 15.30 Rūta Dūduma and Jānis Ķirsis;
16.00 – 17.00 Leila Alijeva’s Duo;
17.30 – 18.00 Theatre studio Laiva with a Christmas performance;
Between the performances fun and games together with Dwarfs

09.12. – 17.30 – 19.30 DJ Toms Grēviņš;

10.12. – 13:00 – 14:30 Latvian Traditional music band Tautumeitas;
15:00 – 16:00 Tuba and euphonium artists performance. Host: Māris Grigalis;
16.30 – 17.30 Music by group The Coco`nuts;
Between the performances fun and games together with Dwarfs;

11.12. – 09.00 – 13.00 Santa’s Fun Run and Walk;
13.00 – 14.30 Alise Kante & Edijs Šnipke;
15.00 – 16.45 Post-folk group Dārdi;
17.15 – 18.00 Music by Mazie Meža Dīvainīši (MmD);
Between the performances fun and games together with Dwarfs

16.12. – 17.30 – 19.30 DJ Egons Reiters;

17.12. – 13.00 – 14.00 University of Latvia folk dance group Dandari;
14.30 – 15.30 Post-folk band Dziit;
16.00 – 18.00 Dancers from Riga Folk dance Club;
Between the performances fun and games together with Dwarfs

18.12. – 12.00 -12.30 Children’s pop group Brīnumiņš;
13.00 – 13.30 Children’s vocal ensemble Asniņi;
14.00 – 15.45 Iveta Marija Gaile’s Trio;
16.15 – 18.00 Music by group Pieneņu Vīns;
Between the performances fun and games together with Dwarfs;

20.12. –  Winter Solstice
17.00 Riga folk group Lāns;
17.45 Līvāni folk group Ceiruleits;
18.30 Celebration of Latvian Traditional Christmas;
Dragging of the Yule log – stop in the Dome Square;

23.12. – 17.30 – 19.30 DJ Ketija Šēnberga;

24.12. – 13.30 – 14.30 Dixieland band Sunny Groove Dixie;
15.00 – 15.30 Mixed Choir of the Latvian Academy of Culture Sōla;
Between the performances fun and games together with Dwarfs;

25.12. – 13.30 – 14.30 La Petite Paris & Diāna Pīrāgs;
15.00 – 16.00 Jolanta Gulbe-Paškeviča, Deniss Paškevičs and Āris Ozols;
Between the performances fun and games together with Dwarfs;

26.12 13.30 – 14.30 Jazz-funk band Very Cool People and Kristīne Prauliņa;
15.00 – 16.45 Post-folk group Rikši;
Between the performances fun and games together with Dwarfs

30.12. – 17.30 – 19.30 DJ Artis Volfs;

31.12. – 19.00 – 20.00 Dixieland band Sunny Groove Dixie;
20.30 – 22.30 Rock and roll band The Swamp Shakers;
22.30 – 2.00 DJ Toms Grēviņš;

06.01. – 17.30 – 19.15 Mārtiņš Balodis, Jānis Līde and Normans Bārbals;

07.01. – 14.00 – 15.00 Folk group Iļjinskaja Pjatņica;
15.30 – 17.00 Folk group Berendejka;

SANTA’S HOUSE will be open:
On Fridays, 27, 28, 29 and 30 December from 14.00 to 20.00
On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 12.00 to 18.00

Visit the FIRE HOUSE on Saturdays and Sundays from 13.00 to 18.00 to try some very special culinary surprises

On weekends and holidays enjoy a pony ride