News

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.

Jelgava was ranked as one of the winners of the FDi’s (Foreign Direct Investment) European Cities and Regions of the Future 2020/21 ranking. The FDI Intelligence division of the Financial Times collected data for more than 500 locations, also under category FDI Strategy, for which there were 161 submissions.

This year, the city of Jelgava celebrates its 755th anniversary. In the month of the city festival in May, Jelgava residents, guests, as well as close and distant friends are invited to celebrate the holiday at home with their family with Jelgava in their hearts. Everyone with the motto “Mēs esam Jelgava” (We are Jelgava) is invited to engage in creative activities, feel a sense of community and express their love for the city with a 755-year-old history.

“Jelgavas autobusu parks” Ltd. has developed a new city public transport route scheme, which allows passengers to navigate city bus routes much more conveniently. The map of Jelgava shows in details the timetable of each bus route and its stops. New maps are now being launched at stops – in total, around 90 city bus stops.

Due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus Covid 19 in Europe and the declaration of emergency situation, public measures have been cancelled in Latvia, including in Jelgava, from March 13. Cultural and leisure events have been canceled, as well as the reunion of Jelgava High School No. 4 planned on March 14. As far as possible, this and other measures will be rescheduled after the end of the emergency situation in the state.

The government has decided to extend the precautionary and security measures during the emergency situation in order to prevent more effectively the spread of COVID-19 in Latvia. The restrictions will affect the work of educational establishments, public assembly, movement outside the state borders and other areas.

30 professional artists from seven countries have been chosen to participate in 22nd International Ice sculpture festival, which will be held in Jelgava from 7th to 9th of February. Creating 45 competition sculptures, artists will bring to life 2020 years’ festival theme “Superhero’s”.