News

Rundāle Palace informs that from November 4th to November 26th, the exhibition “The Courland Dukes’ Tombs” at Jelgava Castle, under its management, will be closed. However, from November 27th, the tombs will be open to visitors five days a week.

Proud of our country’s freedom fighters and celebrating Lačpleša Day, on November 11th at 18:00, we will gather for a torchlight procession. The procession will begin on Dambja Street and conclude at the Lačplešs Monument, where at around 18:45, there will be a solemn moment followed by a concert in a patriotic atmosphere, featuring the mixed choir “Balti” as well as musicians LUKS and Ģirts Alsters.

Saiva Kuple, a restorer at the Ģederts Eliass Jelgava History and Art Museum and the director of the Zemgale Restoration Centre, has received the Hungarian state award “Silver Cross of Merit.” She was honored for the restoration of V. Smakauskas’ painting.

From February 7 to 9, 2025, Jelgava will traditionally become a kingdom of ice sculptures – the city will host the 26th International Ice Sculpture Festival. Preparations for the event have already begun, and sculptors can apply until November 19.

In mid-October, from 14th to 20th October, Jelgava and its surroundings will host a gourmet festival – “BaudĒŠANA in Jelgava”. During this event, local residents and guests are invited to visit dining establishments in Jelgava and Jelgava County to enjoy special gourmet meals made from autumn’s harvest.

To strengthen cooperation in the field of culture, the folk dance ensemble “Lielupe,” consisting of 22 people, has departed for Jelgava’s sister city, Carmel (USA), this week. The dancers will represent Jelgava at the International Arts Festival in Carmel.

The festival, now in its sixth year, will be held on September 6th from 1 PM to 6 PM at Pasta Sala with a diverse program aimed at promoting engineering, metalworking, mechanical engineering, and technical creativity through engaging activities. The festival will also feature the traditional “Minox Zemgale” invention and innovation exhibition. On September 14th and 15th, motor sports enthusiasts are invited to the “Rullītis” sports and recreation complex.

On 31 August, from 9 AM to 3 PM, Jelgava will host the 24th annual Milk, Bread, and Honey Festival and the 22nd Latvian Cheese Day. In Duke Jacob’s Square, visitors will have the opportunity to meet bakers, beekeepers, and dairy product producers from all over Latvia, while cheese producers will be located in the square behind the cultural centre. Throughout the day, there will also be a concert program, attractions, and creative workshops.

Jelgava Municipal Police officers, Patrol Police Division inspectors Gints Burba and Andrejs Endzenbergs, have returned from Jelgava’s sister city Carmel in the USA. They spent two weeks working alongside Carmel police officers, gaining insight into their daily operations.

Today, participants of the camp “Jelgava – Mītava” – 29 children and young people, along with five accompanying teachers from the sister city Ivano-Frankivsk in Ukraine – met with the city leadership at the Jelgava City Council.

The camp “Jelgava – Mītava” for children and young people from Jelgava’s sister city in Ukraine, Ivano-Frankivsk, is coming to an end. It is organised by the municipality with the support of entrepreneurs, and today, with performances at Jelgava Primary School “Valdeka” Development Centre, the camp participants expressed their gratitude to the entrepreneurs and the Jelgava municipality for the opportunity to enjoy two carefree and peaceful weeks. Another group of children and young people from Ivano-Frankivsk will arrive in Jelgava on Monday.

Continuing the successful cooperation between Jelgava and our sister city Carmel in the USA, this week two Jelgava Municipal Police officers have gone to the state of Indiana for a two-week exchange visit. They arrived in the USA today and will start working with Carmel law enforcement officers from Monday, 15 July – joining joint patrols to get an idea of police work in the USA.