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By pinning a red-white-red ribbon, raising the national flag at home, attaching it to your car, and participating in festive events, the citizens of Jelgava are invited to mark the 106th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Latvia on November 18. The city will host an ecumenical service, and citizens are encouraged to lay flowers and candles at the monument of Latvia’s first President, Jānis Čakste, and to attend celebratory concerts. A highlight of the city celebrations will be a 3D multimedia story, “A Gift for Latvia’s Birthday,” projected onto the Jelgava Holy Trinity Church Tower. Before the show, a virtual exhibition of drawings created by Jelgava students as a gift for Latvia’s birthday will be displayed on the tower. Let’s join in and fill our city with a festive and uplifting spirit!

Throughout the day, everyone is invited to lay flowers and candles at the monument of Latvia’s first President Jānis Čakste. On this day, citizens of Jelgava can also participate in the ecumenical service at St. Anne’s Pro-Cathedral, attend the free concert “Great Masters of Latvian Piano Music” at the Jelgava Culture Centre (invitation required), and enjoy an outdoor concert at Duke Jēkaba Square, where the Zemessardze 51st Infantry Battalion ensemble “Dobeles Zemessargi” will perform songs dedicated to Latvia.

On the Tower – Multimedia Story and Jelgava Students’ Drawings

From 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM, the multimedia story “A Gift for Latvia’s Birthday” will be shown on the tower of Jelgava’s Holy Trinity Church, repeating every ten minutes. The 3D multimedia performance will reveal a surreal story about two children who are searching for a gift and dreaming of what to give Latvia for its birthday. However, the greatest gift to Latvia is the children as they are the future of both our city and our country.

Before the multimedia story, viewers can admire the virtual exhibition of Jelgava students’ drawings from the “A Gift for Latvia’s Birthday” campaign on the tower. The municipality’s “Culture” institution notes that the campaign received a tremendous response from students, with a total of 267 drawings submitted.

All of them will be displayed from 5:30 PM to 6:00 PM, and in intervals during the multimedia story, selected drawings will be projected onto the tower.

We would like to inform you that all of Jelgava’s students’ works are already on display in the exhibition on the 2nd floor of the Jelgava Culture Centre. The exhibition “A Gift for Latvia’s Birthday” at the Culture Centre will be open until December 15.

For a Festive Atmosphere – Illuminated Buildings

To enhance the festive atmosphere in the city during the national holiday, several buildings will be illuminated in the colors of our national flag. Among these are the facade of the Jelgava City Library on Akadēmijas Street 26, the balcony of a house in Old Town Jelgava on Vecpilsētas Street 14, the Jelgava Sports Hall on Mātera Street 44a, and the Jelgava Education Department on Svētes Street 22. During the holiday, illuminated windows will be seen at the “Zīļuks” preschool on Skautu Street 1a, Jelgava’s 4th Primary School on Pulkveža Oskara Kalpaka Street 34, as well as at the “Ābelīte” kindergarten on Vaļņu Street 6, Jelgava’s Pārlielupe Secondary School on Loka Maģistrāle 29, Jelgava’s Paula Bedrups Primary School on Filozofu Street 50, Jelgava Primary School “Valdeka”–Development Center on Institūta Street 4, Jelgava’s 4th Secondary School on Akmeņu Street 1, Jelgava’s 5th Secondary School on Aspazijas Street 20, Jelgava State Gymnasium on Mātera Street 44, Jelgava Crafts Secondary School on Akadēmijas Street 25, and Jelgava Technical School on Pulkveža Oskara Kalpaka Street 37. Other institutions and individuals are also encouraged to join this initiative by lighting candles in their windows or illuminating buildings in the colors of the national flag.

Join the Lighting of the Castle Park!

Continuing the tradition, the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies invites everyone to participate in lighting up Jelgava Castle Park on the evening of November 18, as part of the “Illumination of the LBTU Academic Path” initiative. During the event, each visitor is welcome to place a brought candle by an ornament or create their own. While listening to some of the most beautiful and heartfelt Latvian songs, candles will start to be lit from 4:00 PM, and everyone is encouraged to continue lighting new flames throughout the evening.

Orienteering Game and Outdoor Exhibition

Throughout the patriotism month until November 28, the Jelgava Regional Tourism Center invites everyone to join the orienteering game “In Search of Freedom” around Jelgava and Jelgava County, offering insights into the history of the Freedom Fights. Detailed information on the game and how to participate is available at www.visit.jelgava.lv. Additionally, outside the Ģederta Eliasa Jelgavas History and Art museum, an outdoor exhibition titled “From Council to Municipality” commemorates the 135th anniversary of the city’s first elected council.

Just before Latvia’s birthday on November 16, families with children are invited to a themed event, “The Brain Teasers Game,” at the Miezīte Library. Through a series of tasks, children will test their wits and deepen their knowledge about Latvia, the event’s chosen theme. Only by completing each task in order will they reach the finish line. The tasks can be done individually or in teams to enhance the spirit of competition.

On November 17 at 4:00 PM, everyone in Jelgava is invited to join a celebratory run marking Latvia’s 106th birthday. The route will take participants from the new water tourism base to the Jānis Čakste monument – where they can light their brought candles and back to the new water tourisms base.

Traffic Restrictions

During the celebrations, there will be traffic restrictions in the vicinity of Duke Jēkaba Square. Additionally, from 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM, the section of Lielā Street from the intersection with Akadēmijas Street to the intersection with Pasta Street will be closed to traffic.

Free Bus Rides

To enable residents to attend the festive events in Jelgava, on November 18, passengers will be able to ride city route buses for free. However, please note that buses will run according to the Saturday schedule. The bus timetable is available on the Jelgava Bus Park website at www.jap.lv.

Laying Flowers and Lighting Candles at Meža Cemetery on November 21

In our city, national celebrations traditionally culminate on November 21, marking the liberation of Jelgava from Bermont-Avalov’s troops. On the 105th anniversary of this event, The citizens of Jelgava are invited to lay flowers and light candles at Meža Cemetery throughout the day. Additionally, on this day, Jelgava City Library will host a game for young people titled “Break into the Library.”