News

With the beginning of 2021 new events are coming. But we offer to take a look at what the year 2020 marked on the pages of Jelgava’s history. It was the year of 755th anniversary of Jelgava and the year that will definitely stay in our memory as special, because we lived, worked and studied in an unprecedented situation. However, despite global events, we will remember last year with a victory we won together – we managed to preserve the city’s status of Jelgava, celebrated the city’s 755th anniversary during the emergency, and so much more happened in 2020.

Everyone in Jelgava city have access to the free support phone 8787 of Municipality operative information centre (Centre), which operates 24/7 and is a way to report any problem to solve it as operationally prevented as possible.

The two-year reconstruction of the 4.7 kilometre long transit road has been completed and opened for traffic. It is one of the largest construction projects in the city, involving significant amount of financial contribution. The completion of the project is an important step in the further development of the city and will serve for both – development of businesses in the surrounding territory as well as for transportation needs of Jelgava’s residents, as it will contribute to the construction of the planned northern bypass – formed by Loka Maģistrāle, the perspective northern crossing over the Lielupe and Driksai and Atmodas Street.

With Latvia in our hearts we will celebrate the 102nd birthday of the Latvian State on 18th November. We will affirm the common values, love and respect of our homeland for our people and State, creating a sense of celebration in everyone’s family and home.

From October 12th to 18th everyone is invited to taste meals based on seasonal ingredients grown in Latvia in five Jelgava Restaurants during the Autumn Restaurant Week.

The season of the sand sculpture park ended on October 1, but as the sand artworks are still in good condition, it has been decided that from October 6 the sculptures on the Pasta (Post) Island will be available free of charge.

Jelgava History and Art Museum of Ģederts Eliass has renewed its exhibition “Prehistoric and medieval times in Semigallia”, which is now available for visitors. The exhibition spans thousands of years of history – paleolithic age through medieval times. It features objects mostly from the collection of Kurland Provincial Museum and Athenaeum, but several new finds have been added as well.

By continuing a tradition put in motion by the event “Forest comes to Jelgava”, this year five sculptors have spent a week creating sculptures of fairytale characters during the yearly wooden sculpture symposium “Second breath”. The sculptures will be featured in the Southern part of Pasta island, in the newly created “Happiness park”.

The use of drones is governed by the new Cabinet Regulations, which came into force in the summer of 2019, as well as the aviation law and the EU regulation. The requirements apply to anyone operating flights with drone, organising drone flights and owning or managing a drone. High-risk flights need to pass the pilot test and also to insure the flight.

Since the 20th of June the sand sculpture park on Pasta (Post) island is open, inviting every citizen and visitor of Jelgava to enter the wonderful world of sand art. The traditional Sand sculpture festival leads its 14th year not as a contest but as a large-scale exhibition dedicated to the history of Jelgava, offering 10 works of art, which tell the story of the city spanning 755 years.

At the end of the summer, Jelgava will traditionally gather gourmets, and supporters of healthy and active lifestyle to celebrate the 20th Milk, Bread and Honey Festival that will take place in Duke Jacob’s Square in the city of Jelgava and 18th “Baltais” Milk Pack Boat Regatta. During the regatta, teams will compete in speed and creativity on Driksa River, this event guarantee excitement and entertainment. Everyone is welcome to apply for participation in the regatta until August 24th by filling electronic application form HERE.

In the past few years possibilities for summer tourism in Jelgava have increased. The city can be viewed not only from a leisure boat, but also while on a paddle boat, SUP and new for this season – an electric boat with grill. During sunny days water recreation possibilities are in demand and a single rental place can see up to 100 visitors per day. However, everyone is still urged to remember that there are a number of rules to be observed while on water.