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As Christmas approaches, the streets, parks, and Duke Jekāba Square in Jelgava shine with festive string lights, various light decorations, and beautifully adorned Christmas trees. The Jelgava Regional Tourism Center (JRTC) traditionally offers the walking route “The Dance of Lights in Jelgava” in December, inviting citizens and visitors to explore the city’s Christmas decorations and immerse themselves in the holiday spirit.

The recommended starting point for the walking route is Jelgava Palace, which is especially festive in winter. The palace windows and balconies are illuminated with LED decorations, while the courtyard features an Advent wreath and decorated Christmas trees. Continuing the walk to Pasta Island, visitors can admire a lit spatial sailing ship and light installations in the shape of sails, which this year are enhanced with acanthus motifs. During the winter stroll, Stacijas Park offers a themed light decoration ensemble—a group of free-standing triangular decorations with snowflake motifs—while the lampposts are adorned with various-sized stars with snowflakes. Similarly, in Raiņa Park, the lampposts are decorated with traditional Latvian “puzuri” ornaments featuring glowing snowflakes.

On Driksas Street’s pedestrian section, a decorated Christmas tree has been installed, string lights drape above the street, and light projections illuminate the pavement. Along Driksas Street, a daily market operates from approximately 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., offering festive items such as Advent wreaths, knitwear, preserves, cranberries, honey, and other treats.

The walking route is recommended to conclude at Jelgava’s brightest spot—Duke Jēkaba Square—home to the city’s main Christmas tree. Standing 18 meters tall, the tree is composed of over 30 smaller trees. The decorations feature pearl, gold, and brown ornaments of various sizes, along with warm white LED light strings. This year, a new large-scale decoration graces Duke Jēkaba Square—a silhouette of Jelgava Palace, measuring over 21 meters wide and four meters tall, made with warm white LED light wires. The winter fairytale atmosphere created by the palace silhouette is enhanced by six decorative arches. The illuminated arches, the palace silhouette, and the Christmas tree decorations incorporate stylized acanthus motifs, symbolically referencing the Baroque style of Jelgava Palace. The tree crowns in Duke Jēkaba Square sparkle with LED light curtains.

The total length of the suggested route is approximately 6 kilometers, taking about 1.5 hours to complete. The recommended time for the walk is from 4 p.m., when dusk sets in, and the city decorations light up. The festive decorations will remain on display until mid-January.

The “Dance of Lights in Jelgava” route can be enriched with free audio guide stories and descriptions about Jelgava’s tourist attractions. Using the app during the walk, you can learn more about Jelgava Palace, Raiņa Park, Pasta Island, the Old Town Quarter on Vecpilsētas Street, the Ģederts Eliass Jelgava History and Art Museum, the St. Trinity Church Tower, Duke Jēkaba Square, and other city landmarks.

JRTC recommends enjoying the walk with warming drinks, which can be purchased to-go from one of the city’s cafés and restaurants.

For more information, visit www.visit.jelgava.lv.