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It seems, the Midsummer Festival (Latvian — Jāņi) — and all things related to it — is the most important and most eagerly anticipated event in Latvia. It is the summer solstice, when you can spend time in nature, go to the countryside and embark on shared adventures, experience both ancient and modern traditions of celebrating — to lay the festive table, go to Līgo (eve of Jāņi) fairs and entertaining theatre performances, take part in events honouring Latvian traditions and attend open-air dances. You can try it all here — in the municipality of Tukums.

Theatre Oldies but Goodies on Open-air Stages

The first to welcome audiences is Slampe Culture Centre, where on 17 June at 19:00, the comedy by Rūdolfs Blaumanis “From the sweet bottle” (No saldenās pudeles) will be performed. Latvian style humour, passion, and cheerful fun will await you here. The story tells how, as the midsummer season approaches, the atmosphere at “Ezerlauki” homestead grows ever more lively, with young men and women yearning to give in to love and fateful decisions. Amidst all the hullabaloo, a husband must be found for the servant girl and a husband for the mistress of the house, and at times, passions will run beyond common sense. It is a spirited and lively comedy by Blaumanis, in which the sweetness of life stands above all — just like wine from a sweet bottle. Lead roles will be played by favourites amongst the Latvian audiences: Daiga Gaismiņa as the mistress of “Ezerlauki” homestead, Zane Daudziņa as Lavīze, Madara Melne-Tomsone as Marija, Jānis Skanis as the master of “Rindēni” homestead, and Zane Aļļēna as Auce, who will be enchanted by Mārtiņš Počs playing the role of Pičuks Admission: EUR 25–30. Tickets can be purchased at “Biļešu paradīze” ticket offices and online HERE.

In the courtyard of Šlokenbeka Manor, on the evening of 20 June at 19:00, the play “Tailor comes to Silmači” (Skroderdienas Silmačos) will be performed on open-air stage. Audiences will experience the familiar story, which brings people together through warmth and songs across generations. The special festive atmosphere will take over the manor grounds, where the scent of flower crowns will fill the air and midsummer songs will ring out. It will be an unforgettable encounter with a classic piece that will inspire, delight, and let you experience the true spirit of summer. Admission: EUR 15. Tickets can be purchased at “Biļešu paradīze” ticket offices or online HERE.

It wouldn’t be a Midsummer Festival without fun theatre performances, singing or dancing! The locals of Tukums are certain of it. This year, they have pulled together to create a musical performance for the Midsummer Festival: a light-hearted play of songs and dancing “Sins of Trine” (Trīnes grēki), which is based on scenes from the play by Rūdolfs Blaumanis. Under the guidance of director Liene Bēniņa, the well known story will come to life on the evening of 20 June at Durbe Stage, at 21:00. It will be accompanied by a world of sounds created by the musical director Sanita Apine, as well as by patterns of movement created by the choreography director Madara Augule. The evening will feature amateur performing arts troupes from Tukums and an orchestra conducted by Rihards Jakuško. But once the play ends, the evening will only just be getting started. The Tukums Town Culture Centre invites you to stay for an outdoor dance party featuring a band led by Juris Rozenbergs. Admission: EUR 7. Tickets can be purchased at “Biļešu paradīze” ticket offices and online HERE.

On Jaunpils Park Stage, a theatrical, lively and benevolently ironic performance accompanied by music of Raimonds Pauls, with brilliant characters, witty dialogues and unexpected situations will take place on 22 June at 19:00. Here, keen theatregoers are invited to enjoy the play “A brief instruction in love” (Īsa pamācība mīlēšanā). The cast includes Mārtiņš Brūveris, Aija Dzērve, Zane Jančevska, Evija Krūze, Aīda Ozoliņa, Juris Kalniņš, Voldemārs Šoriņš, Kristiāns Karēļins, Andris Daņiļenko, and Valdis Zilveris; the play is directed by Juris Kalniņš. Free admission

Summer Solstice in Latvian Traditions

On 19 June at 20:00, Slampe Culture Centre will welcome the locals of Slampe to the Summer Solstice Fire Ritual. There will be a shared fire ritual, an exploration of the power and meaning of folk songs, and singing. The ritual will be led by Gatis and Aija Valdheims and the group “Baltās dūjas”. Everyone is invited to arrive dressed in clothing reflecting their Latvian identity. Women are invited to wear flower crowns, skirts or dresses, carrying a bouquet of wild flowers, as well as last year’s flower bouquets or crowns. Free admission.

Celebrating the summer solstice in line with Latvian traditions is becoming increasingly popular. Overseas visitors are interested in these rituals, too. If you attend the event “Three-by-nine little logs” (Trejdeviņas pagalītes) at the Durbe Manor Park in Tukums, you will have a chance to experience these rituals. This year, on 21 June at 21:00. The event this summer will invite you to experience the magic of the shortest night of the year. The evening will start with songs, three-by-nine logs will burn in the bonfire, and four elements — fire, earth, air, and water — will intertwine. Offerings will be made to fire with the wish “Let it be” (Lai top!) to create a genuine solstice ambience. It will be an evening in which ancient traditions, nature and coming together will allow to discover the power of early summer. Free admission. Bring offerings for the fire: a bit of water, bread, cheese, honey, grain or seeds, peas or beans, also some cash and last year’s flower crowns.

Dawn Concert Ritual “TAUTUMEITAS”

This year, group “Tautumeitas” invite to experience the Dawn Concert Ritual on Sveikuļi Hill in Tukums. This will be the third year of the Dawn Concert Ritual — this time on the night of 19th to 20th June — slowly becoming a festive tradition of the group. People can start gathering at the concert ritual venue starting at midnight, but the concert will begin well before sunrise — at 02:00. This time round, Sveikuļi Hill will host the concert ritual. Voices of Maidens (Tautumeitas) will ring out across the forests of Sveikuļi and will echo over Lake Jumprava until dawn.

Guests are urged to arrive in good time to walk the forest trails to Sveikuļi Hill peacefully, to think back to what’s been achieved in the year so far and to get into the mood for music and magic of nature. The night before dawn can be cool; attendees can take along blankets, camping chairs, a warm tea and snacks.

Seats at the venue are not assigned, but there will be designated areas for those who wish to enjoy the concert, wrapped in a blanket and holding a warm cuppa, and for those who prefer warming up by joining ritual dancing. The ticket price is the same in all zones.

Concert Ritual Program: at 23:00 – coming together, at 0:30, warm-up by the folk and ancient battle ensemble “Vilkači”, at​2:00, “Tautumeitas” concert, expected finish at​5:00. Concert admission: EUR 35. Tickets can be purchased at “Biļešu paradīze” ticket offices or online HERE.

The easiest way to get to the concert from Riga is by dedicated charter ride “Let’s ride together” (Braucam kopā); ride participants will be treated to surprises by the band “Tautumeitas”. Ride ticket: EUR 25.

Itinerary of the charter ride “Let’s ride together”: 19 June, 22:30: departure from Riga (Aspazijas bulvāris 7); shortly before midnight: arrival at Sveikuļi Hill in Tukums; after the event, shortly before 5:00: departure from Sveikuļi; around 6:30: arrival in Riga. Find out more about “Let’s ride together” by writing to: brauc@braucamkopa.lv or via telephone/Whatsapp: 27814444

Locals of Tukums are invited to walk to “Sveikuļi”; those from the vicinity Tukums are invited to park their cars at the town’s parking lots and walk to the venue.

Summer Solstice Fairs

Overseas visitors love seasonal fairs which are popular in Latvia. So do locals. You can buy products, check out what’s new, see if the first berries of the season are in, as well as buy men’s tree-leaf crowns, women’s flower crowns and Midsummer wild-flower bouquets.

Midsummer fairs in and around Tukums:

On 23 June 9:00–14:00 in Tukums

On 23 June 10:00–15:00 in Engure