News

From February 7 to 9, Jelgava will traditionally transform into an ice sculpture kingdom. The 26th International Ice Sculpture Festival will take place on Pasta (Post) Island, at the public ice skating rink, and along Jānis Čakstes Boulevard. Thirty-five sculptors from 13 countries will carve and polish 80 tons of crystal-clear ice to reveal their vision of the theme “The Story of the Universe.” The festival will be accompanied by an extensive entertainment program – sculpture-making duels, a fire show, ice games, children’s performances, and musical performances. Tickets will be available at a reduced price until January 31.

The year 2025 marks Jelgava City’s 760th birthday! To highlight the significance of this celebration, a visual identity and guidelines for the 760th anniversary have been developed. The main elements of the logo include the name of Jelgava State City, the symbolic combination of the anniversary year’s numbers transitioning into the city’s silhouette, and the city’s founding year. Let’s take pride in our city and create a festive atmosphere together!

What has the year 2024 been like in Jelgava, what have we experienced, and what have we accomplished? We offer a brief look back at the highlights of this year in our city.

Next year, Jelgava will celebrate its 760th anniversary. To welcome both the New Year and the city’s anniversary year, on December 31st, starting from 11 PM, the people of Jelgava are invited to Duke Jēkaba Square. In the heart of the city, we will experience the special moments of the New Year’s Eve with festive greetings, songs, and dances – at midnight, along with the whole of Latvia, and 25 minutes later, according to Jelgava’s time.

Encouraging to spend the holiday season actively, outdoors, and with family, this year, until January 5th, a themed Christmas walk will take place at the “Lediņi” in the “Junda” creative house. Participation in the walk is free of charge and does not require prior registration, but the working hours of the Elf Village must be observed.

Andris Rāviņš: “In the development of any city, more important than completing one task or another is pragmatic and thoughtful action that allows the area to grow in a balanced way across all sectors. And, in my opinion, it is precisely stable, understandable, predictable, and continuous development year after year that is Jelgava’s strong suit. On a daily basis, we usually don’t think about how each of our actions together creates strong foundations for Jelgava. Therefore, in the upcoming – our city’s 760th anniversary – year, we will keep in mind that Jelgava’s stability and strength depend on each of us, who does their job every day. Yes, there have been plenty of challenges this year, but despite them, we have implemented significant projects that offer new opportunities to the people of Jelgava in education, sports, and social fields. At the end of the year, we launched a large-scale project for the development of entrepreneurship – the creation of the Zemgale Industrial Park. And that’s just one of the important tasks we will need to carry out. Therefore, on the path of the city’s development, even in the new year, Jelgava will greatly benefit from the contribution of each Jelgavian, so that, with satisfaction for what has been achieved, we can all celebrate our city’s 760th birthday together in May,” emphasizes Andris Rāviņš, Chairman of the Jelgava City Council.

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.

On the first Sunday of Advent, at Duke Jēkaba Square, with the presence of Jelgava citizens, the city’s main Christmas tree was lit up, bringing joy until mid-January. Along with the tree, a new large-scale decoration was illuminated – the silhouette of Jelgava Castle, more than 20 meters wide and 4 meters high, as well as six lit-up arches and festive ornaments along Lielā Street.

At the Ģederts Eliass Jelgava History and Art Museum, a retrospective exhibition of Imants Lancmanis’ works titled “Imants Lancmanis’ Painting” has been opened. “62 years have passed since I declared: I need a realistic, brush-painted alternate world—a precise depiction of this world and my imagined one on canvas. Today, this remains my signature style, though the themes have changed over the years—it’s about what is important for me to express and show,” the artist Imants Lancmanis describes his exhibition. The exhibition will be on display at the museum from November 16 to January 5.

An informational material “Jelgava in Numbers 2023” has been prepared and published on the municipality’s website. It has undergone a visual update, aligning with the design of the Jelgava municipality’s public report from last year. The material includes key figures and facts about the city’s population, employment, economy, transportation, education, social services, healthcare, culture, tourism, sports, as well as attracted investments and the Jelgava municipality’s budget resources and expenditures.

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!

In November, when we celebrate Lāčplēsis Day and Latvia’s Proclamation Day, Jelgava has been decorated for the national holidays. Decorations have been set up in various areas of the city.