News

March has started with some pleasantly warm and sunny days. Even the big snow has melted. Spring has arrived, that is for sure. What will the first month of the sun be like? Where to go and what to do in Tukums in March 2021? Since cultural and sports events cannot take place, we encourage you to spend your free time and draw positive emotions in nature – to explore and experience, to shelter from the bustle and gain positive emotions. We invite you to get to know Tukums. Discover this town again!

Let's head for window exhibitions!

From February 27 to April 4, the display windows of Tukums Weavers' Workshop at 3 Tidaholmas Street remotely demonstrate an exhibition by textile artist Iveta Liepiņa titled “Sarunas ar...” (Conversations with ...).The artist was born and studied in Tukums, lives in Sēme Rural Territory. The exhibition features felted works of various sizes and colours, plastic alloys, Nano technologies, photo prints on fabric and other experiments – both in the author's own techniques and ideas borrowed elsewhere in the world.

From March 1 to March 15, the show window exhibition “Klaunu iznāciens” (Please Welcome the Clowns) is on display at the Džūkste Fairy Tale Museum. The museum cannot yet receive visitors at its home, but through the windows it can offer joy, smile and spring greetings with the help of 63 clowns. On 1 March 2009, Marija Anmane (1945–2020), a resident of Džūkste, presented about 300 clowns to the museum. They are made of wood, glass, metal, clay, earthenware, fabric, leather and other materials. She believed that the collected clowns had been handed over in safe hands for the enjoyment of both young and the old.

Until the opening of the museums, an exhibition of graphic and design works by singer, radio host and poet Igo (Rodrigo Fomins) titled “Daudz laimes” (Lots of Happiness) can be enjoyed in the windows of the Art Gallery “Durvis”. The museum's doors are closed due to the government's requirements to limit the spread of Covid-19. To delight visitors, the exhibition, which was opened at the end of 2020, is arranged so that graphic works can be viewed in its display windows.

The photo exhibition “Gribu dancot, gribu dancot!” (I Want to Dance, I Want to Dance!) will be on view in the large display windows of Tukums City Culture House until 6 April. While the stage boards of the Culture House are waiting for the return of the dancers, Tukums residents and guests are warmly invited to take a look at the creative life of folk dance group “Svīta”, folk dance group “Vidums” and folk dance group “Svīta Tukums” in the display window exhibition. Every year during this time, the Culture House is full of steps and laughter of dancers giving their performances in the concerts “Danči sniegā” (Dance in the Snow) and “Sieviete, dieviete” (Woman, Goddess). This year, during the quiet time of the pandemic, we will look back on the most beautiful events and rejoice in the richness of our dancers' national costumes.

Open-air art exposition in Tukums Old Town

We encourage residents and guests of Tukums to visit the exhibition “Brīvdabas mākslas ekspozīcija Tukuma vecpilsētā” (Open-Air Art Exposition in Tukums Old Town) – on Harmonijas and Dārza Street. It was created in the period between 2014 and 2016, but it has become especially relevant at this time, when we are looking for something new when going for walks.

In the Old Town of Tukums, visitors can appreciate the works of the most important Latvian artists on double-sided prints displayed on lampposts. The exposition can be viewed at any time of the day and it introduces one of the richest painting collections of Latvian museums. These two streets are the most beautiful streets of the historical centre of the town and they are closely connected with the Tukums Museum. The museum was housed at 13 Dārza Street (1943–1997) until it was moved to the former bank building at 7 Harmonijas Street, where the Tukums Art Museum is currently located. You can start your visit from any point of the exposition.

Special Offer by Jaunmokas Palace

The Jaunmokas Manor offers to enjoy the culture while breathing fresh air at a time when the indoors exhibits of the museum are closed. While on the walk around the manor grounds, you can bring along an audio guide and learn something new and exciting about this hunting lodge and its history.

To make sure that the narrative feels more personal and interesting, the content was prepared to ensure that the listener is greeted and taken on the tour through the manor rooms by the first owner of the manor, the former mayor of Riga George Armitstead. The guide text and information in QR codes are available in Latvian, Russian, English and Lithuanian. The text in Latvian has been voiced over by the actor Jānis Skanis, who has often played the host of the Jaunmokas Manor at festivities.

Orienteering in the manor park is available for those enjoying more active recreation (EUR 1 / person). The game will require creative co-operation in a strategic task – by answering questions on the work sheet, to find specific objects at the park and to find out something interesting about them. During the quest, the guests will learn about the diversity and richness of the nature in the park.

Another new offer to mention is the possibility to buy the task kit put together by the Forest Museum for individual remote exploration of the museum exhibits. It includes orienteering at the manor park, a crossword puzzle about Latvian birds and animals, and children together with their parents can create their very own bookmark and colour their favourite animals on the shapes sheet.

Adventures on nature trails

One might ask: "How often can you take the same trail?!" And we will answer: "At least four times a year!" Because there are four seasons in the Latvian nature. Spring comes with the beginning of a new life, snow melts and the ground melts, the first spring flowers start to sprout, buds grow on tree branches, and soon we are excited to welcome the first migratory birds. And then birdsong becomes louder and louder and the noise in the forest begins to resemble the bustle of a city.

The most popular trail to visit in our area, of course, is the Big Ķemeri Bog trail and other nature trails in the Ķemeri National Park. So, instead of advertising these, we will offer 5 alternatives to explore during the spring.

The Jāņupīte Nature Trail – referred to by the locals also as the Jānītis Trail in the area of Dzirciems. When travelling from Tukums towards Dzirciems, before you reach Dzirciems, on the right-hand side, you will notice “Jānīšu ceļš” (“Jānītis’ Road”). Turn there and you will be at the start of the trail. Here, you can explore the forest, hills and ravines. Along the trail, picnic grounds are set up, so you can bring along sandwiches and warm drinks.

The Trail of Viesata River Bends – set up on the banks of the picturesque Viesata River, where you can play boardgames in open air, as well as organise a picnic. While exploring the trail, you can enjoy the steep banks of the river, visit the forest and see the big boulder Spuņņakmens. You will want to spend a long time on the trail!

The Gallows Hill Trail - a trail has been set up at the Gallows Hill (Kartavkalni) in the area of Jaunpils, where the little Bikstupīte stream flows, to walk its meandering bends and see the large larch tree alley, the spruce tree stand on the hilly terrain, the Gallows Spruce (Karātavu egle), the ancient hill-fort rampart and a plant diversity with rare tree species, as well as try to spot abandoned and new beaver dams. Dedicated picnic sites are set up approximately half-way through the trail.

Rauda Forest Trails - the Werewolf Trail and the Buck’s Trail are short hiking routes in the forests near Tukums. The Werewolf Trail will take you to a part of the forest entwined by legends of werewolves of Kurzeme, while the Buck’s Hill trail will allow you to experience a wonderful forest as you hike the so-called Buck’s Back. The walk will be longer if you travel to the starting points of the trails from Tukums on foot, instead of taking a car.

The Sea Trail (Jūrtaka) is a section of the European long-distance hiking route E9. The route starts at St. Vincent’s Cape in Portugal and ends in Narva-Jõesuu in Estonia where the Narva River flows into the Gulf of Finland. In Latvia, the trail runs along the Baltic seashore and, in our vicinity, it stretches along the Mazjūra (the Gulf of Riga) from Mērsrags to Ragaciems. There are two sections: Mērsrags – Engure and Engure – Ragaciems. All you need to do is plan how to get to the start point of the route, who will then take you home from the finish line, and then set out on your journey! More information about the route not only in our area, but along the entire shore can be found here.

We pay special attention to the Ancient Valley of Abava In March. This time of the year when there are no leaves on trees yet is the best time to enjoy the unique mosaic-like landscape here: look at the hills and valleys, meadows and fields, winding and straight roads, observe the meanders of the small rivers and the rapid flow. If the weather stays warm, you will definitely discover the enchanting carpet of wood anemones. Read more about the trails and opportunities to explore the ancient valley of Abava here.

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When visiting places where you might encounter also other people, we ask not to gather in crowds and keep a distance from others, as well as cover your mouth and nose. We will only be able to create and enjoy a festive mood of the spring when we take care of our own health and that of others, so we ask the locals and guests of Tukums to be responsible and to observe the regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers and COVID-19 restrictions.

See you in Tukums in March!