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In the middle of July, from 17 July until 20 July, Tukums celebrates one of the most vibrant and anticipated events of the summer – the Rose Festival. The festival program promises to be diverse, preserving the traditions characteristic of the Rose Festival, which began in 2008. The Rose Festival in Tukums is among the more unusual festivities in Latvia, celebrating the rose flower, gardens and the work of florists. And this year will not be different.

Introduction to the festival

As usual, we get ready for the festival already on Thursday, the evening of 17 July, when the beautiful Durbe Manor will host the introductory concert NATURE’S SYMPHONY. It will feature some of the gems of Latvian symphonic music, accompanied by the LIEPĀJA SYMPHONIC ORCHESTRA, conducted by Atvars Lakstīgala, together with storyteller Orests Silabriedis.

This evening there will be another event — the opening of the exhibition “LET IT BLOOM...” of craftsmen from the municipality and the surrounding area. The exhibition will focus on one theme — one flower — the ROSE, which will be used by professionals to create works in different techniques and using various materials. The opening of the exhibition will be especially “rosy” with a concert programme by the ensemble “Noskaņa” and miniatures by the Tukums Literary Association dedicated to each piece in the exhibition.

Festival Opening Day

On Friday, 18 July, as the day will draw to end, floristry exhibition “BLOSSOMING OF SILENCE” will be opened at Tukums Ev. Lutheran Church. Visitors to previous festivals will remember how magnificent and baroque the flower exhibition “Rose Garden of Light” in the church was. This year, the floristry exhibition will invite you to enjoy the blossoming of silence. The eponymous concert “BLOSSOMING OF SILENCE” organised by the conductor of Tume mixed choir Marta Ozola and Raimonds Tigulis and his band will help you get into the swing of it.

While the special basketball tournament “Rose Ball” will take place in Porziņgis Square, where unusual teams will compete in 5 matches, Tukums history researchers will be invited to the Tukums Castle Tower, where, as usual, a new exhibition will be unveiled about history — IN TUKUMS AND BEYOND. THE STORY OF THE BLUMENFELD FAMILY. Whereas those who like educational activities and walking, will be welcome to join on a special festive walk “STORY OF THE ROSE”. TEN STEPS IN THE GARDEN OF SENSATIONS, to learn the stories of the Rose Festival, the grand rose wreath and the Tukums town. Interestingly, during the walk it will also be possible to watch unusual performances of movement, light and music.

The grand opening of the festival will take place on Friday evening at Pauzers Meadows on the big ROSE PICNIC stage. It will feature an original performance — the song play MEŽROZĪTE, created by young people — the Tukums State Rainis Gymnasium Youth Chamber Choir (conductor Sanita Apine) and dancers from DEMO dance school, soloists — Agnija Kairiša, Paula Mihailova, Rūdolfs Rācenājs, with the festival orchestra led by Rihards Jakuško. This will be followed by the opening ball with Žoržs SIKSNA, an orchestra and DJ Arturo.

At the same time, Funky and Jazz rhythms will be enjoyed on the GREEN STAGE in Brīvības Square, which will also be transformed into an unusual floristic object. Jazz improvisations will be performed by Marta Monta Zūdiņa, Sigvards Dižais and Matīss Žilinskis, as well as DJ Amigo.

The Big Festival Day

The morning of Saturday, 19 July will start with ROSE YOGA on Mālkalns with Zane Mauriņa and PEAR ROSES, as well as the traditional WHITE orchestra ride through the town and its awakening for the festival. CRAFTS FAIR — a market for craftsmen and home producers from near and far, as well as rose and plant nurseries — will start in the morning. Throughout the day, the handicraft exhibition “Let it bloom...” and the unusual flower exhibition “Blossoming of silence” will be on display, while during the day, another photo exhibition by photographers from the Tukums municipality will be opened in the urban spaces: VIBRATIONS: TUKUMS — the Subjective and the Objective”. There will also be photo orienteering quests, games and sports activities with the association “Līdzvērtība” and “Health Stop” with the MFD Veselības grupa.

But at the centre of it all is the flower blossom! From 10:00 o’clock, in the centre of town – at Brīvības Square, the largest rose wreath will be made again. This time the theme and motif will be “The Milky Way”, and the wreath will be sponsored by the local company “Tukuma piens” or “Baltais”. Everyone is invited to contribute to the wreath by bringing roses from their own garden or from the market, but the creators will be especially pleased for some white flowers. Simultaneously, the donation tent of the campaign “Gift a rose plant to Tukums” will be open at the square inviting to support the purchase of new rose plants to create new rose beds in Tukums. Since the Rose Festival began, this donation campaign has resulted in the creation of 4 rose beds and the renovation of several more across the town. The wreath-making and the campaign will end at 18:00 with the most emotional and heartfelt moment — the rose petal salute.

Next to the large rose wreath, there will be the GREEN STAGE, where an emotional and romantic concert program will be performed throughout the day. Among the musicians performing both folk music and contemporary pieces will be Viktoriia Prituliak (Ukraine), Līga Priede and Andrejs Grimms singing Imants Kalniņš’s song gems, original songs to indulge in nostalgia, reflection and spiritual enrichment will be performed by Amanda Krauja, while Karīna Laugale and Artūrs Krišjānis Goba will take the audience on a journey through the world of jazz music. Pieces from the Latvian pop music hall of fame will be performed by Gunta Menģele, accompanied by Rihards Jakuško, while Pēteris Upelnieks will focus on themes of journey, life, and truth in his programme. Love songs for beginners will be sung by Edīte Štrausa and Atis Ozols.

On the festive Saturday, the traditional Artists’ and Writers’ Street, beloved by visitors, will once again be set up on Harmonijas Street. You will have a chance to peruse street exhibitions by Tukums artists, take part in creative workshops, enjoy a fashion show, contemporary art performances, a tribute of quotations, a rose of kind words, and love and erotic literature by local authors. Among the artists, you will see Ģirts Ķesteris and Uldis Rudaks, alongside street performers. Tukums Art Museum will host meetings and talks about art with the artist of Tukums, sometimes called van Gogh of Tukums — Alberts Pauliņš at his recently opened exhibition “Today” (Mūsdienas). Furthermore, you will have a chance to join in talks and song at the Seventh Day Adventist House.

The FESTIVAL FOR ROSE BUDS or educational, creative, exciting, surprising and sweet activities for children of all ages will be available at the Smile Workshop, Tukums Museum, Eolus Wind Laboratory, State Police and others at the town park and Pauzers Meadows during the first part of the day. Whereas in the evening, youths will be awaited in the courtyard of MANA APTIEKA with a special event — a festival of young scooter riders TUKUMS MEET 2025.

When the main task of the day – making the wreath – is finished, the locals and visitors alike will gather for the festive parade “AR ROZI SIRDĪ UN SPĒKRATOS” (WITH A ROSE IN HEART AND VEHICLES), which will proceed past the newly created wreath to Pauzers Meadows, where the vibrant ROSE PICNIC will take place in the evening. It will begin with a special AIR SHOW in the sky and continue with the best Latvian pop songs on the ground in the concert programme MIKROFONA APTAUJAI 55 — CELEBRATING 55 YEARS OF TOP RECORDS, which will bring together all the most popular as well as new Latvian pop singers – Olga Rajecka, Imants Vanzovičs, Žoržs Siksna, Adrians Kukuvass, Nauris Puntulis, Uģis Roze, Ivars Rutmanis, Juros Pavītols, Matīss Pavītols, Anmary, Dainis Skutelis, Ieva Sutugova, Andris Ābelīte, Harijs Užāns, Olga Stare, Inta Gudovska, Anita Levša and the musical group VINTĀŽA.The concert will be hosted by Latvian Radio legends Gunārs Jākobsons and Lia Guļevska. Then the most legendary and powerful songs of Latvian rock music are to follow at the concert “ROKS UN ROZE” (ROCK AND ROSE). A performance by the band “ColtFair” – Elīna Krastiņa, Harijs Zariņš, Rolands Majors, Matīss Veigulis and Ģirts Bogdans, with special appearances by Aija Andrejeva, Dināra Rudāne, Ervīns Ramiņš (Laime pilnīga) and BUKS (Jānis Buķelis) will take place. Dancing and singing will start around midnight with a performance by PATRISHA and the band and by DJ Saimons.

Meanwhile, the festive ball at Brīvības Square will be accompanied by the Jelgava band “JAUTRIE KLAIDOŅI”. The enchanting flower exhibition “Blossoming of Silence” will feature a concert by “ILGU PUĶE”, performed by the women’s choir NOKTIRNE (conductor Sanita Apine, soloists Ieva Jurga and Undīne Krievāne, accompanied by Ināra Vičamne on piano).

Festive Sunday

On the festival Sunday, 20 July, you are welcome to join the Celebratory Service at Tukums St. Trinity Church. Throughout the day, visitors will be able to enjoy exhibitions open during the festival in the church, the Culture House, and across town, as well as in the town’s museums. Those looking for more excitement are invited to spend the festive Sunday at Jaunmokas Manor, where the GARDEN FESTIVAL will take place. There will be a fair featuring craftsmen and home producers, literary and educational walks and talks, an art plein-air, and creative areas for children.

On Sunday afternoon, choir music enthusiasts are invited to a concert AR SIRDI (With Heart) at the Tukums Lutheran Church, featuring the mixed choir GAVILE (conductor Ketrīna Grīga, soloist Ieva Jurga, accompanied by Karlīne Baltiņa on piano). Meanwhile, at the garden of Jaunmokas Manor, you will have a chance to enjoy the concert by ANCE KRAUZE “SAJŪTU PIEZĪMES” (Notes on Sensations). But the grand finale concert will take place in the evening at Tukums Primary School No. 3, where MESA will perform an acoustic concert.

Festivities after the Festival

Post-Festival celebrations have now become a tradition. On Monday and Tuesday, 21 and 22 July, everyone will have the opportunity to enjoy the beauty and wonder of flowers at the BIG ROSE WREATH at Brīvības Square and the floristry exhibition “BLOSSOMING OF SILENCE” in the church. But for music lovers, Monday evening will feature ETHNO-JAZZ EVENING at the Tukums Evangelical Lutheran Church, with performances by Evelina Protektore and Staņislavs Judins.

Flower and gardening enthusiasts are especially welcome to visit the collections and ornamental gardens of Tukums and vicinity during the festival, as well as before and after the festival. See more here.

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You can find out more about the Rose Festival and other activities during the festival by following the festival page www.facebook.com/rozusvetki, as well as on the website of Tukums Tourism Information Centre Collections.

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We would like to express our special gratitude to the supporters and patrons of the festival, without whom the festival would not have been possible. These are businesses from Tukums and vicinity – advertising agency “SIA Tukuma piens”, whose most recognisable brand is BALTAIS, the pharmacy chain “Mana aptieka”, SIA “Advertex Latvia”, Bumbieru rozes, EOLUS, real estate company SIA “Interbaltija”, electrical installation company SIA “TELMS”, forestry and municipal equipment supplier IKU “Eduards”, café “Kafe Terase”, SIA “Dekšņi”, which owns the local store chain “Top” and newspaper “Neatkarīgās Tukuma Ziņas”.

See you at the Rose Festival in Tukums!