To make it simpler to narrow down the events that might tickle your fancy, The Baltic Times, in cooperation with festival officials, have put together a guide to the festival's activities, locations and times.
Thursday, 30 June
19.00 "I Played, I Danced" Dance performance
Venue: Kipsala International Exhibition Center, Kipsalas 8
19.00 Traditional Music concert
Venue: Riga Latvian Society House (Rigas Latviesu biedribas nams, Merkela 13)
Performers will include kokle groups (a Latvian folk music instrument), folk music bands, folk groups, soloists, vocal groups and a traditional music band. The concert will include arranged traditional music as well as the premiere performance of "Time to Go to Riga" by Imants Mezaraups.
20.00 Children's Symphony Orchestra Concert
Venue: The Great Guild Hall, Amatu 6 (Vecriga)
The children's symphony orchestra will perform for the first time at the Youth Song and Dance Festival. The program will include pieces by Latvian classic music composers E.Darzins and E.Melngailis, as well as music by W.A.Mozart and L.Beethoven.
21.00 Sacred Music concert
Venue: The Garden at Dome Cathedral, Dome Square (Vecriga)
See page 10 for details
Friday, 1 July
11.00 CRAFTS DAY
Venue: Dome Square (Vecriga)
See page 10 for details
11.00 - Crafts demonstrations
13.30 "I Can and I Do!" (folklore group performance)
15.00 - Dance and game program
16.00 - Young craftsmen's skills show
18.00 - Grand concert
20.00 's Fashion show
17.00 Brass Band Tattoo
Venue: Freedom Monument
See page 10 for details
19.00 "Flow of Life" Grand Dance concert
Venue: Skonto Stadium,
E. Melngaila 1a
The dances in this performance have been created to reflect the relationship between humans and their surroundings. Latvian choreographers have divided the concert into 4 parts with 19 dances. The emphasis will lie in four values 's nature, work, wisdom and happiness.
20.00 Concert of visiting
Brass Bands
Venue: The Great Guild Hall, Amatu 6 (Vecriga)
Saturday, 2 July
10.30 ARTS DAY
Venue: Dome Square (Vecriga)
See page 10 for details
14.00 - Children's Symphony Orchestra concert
18.00 - Brass bands concert
22.00 - Theatrical music
11.00 and 18.00
"Flow of Life"
Grand Dance concert
Venue: Skonto Stadium,
E. Melngaila 1a
See July 1 listing
13.00 and 19.00
Modern Dance concert
Venue: Riga Congress Hall,
K. Valdemara 5
See page 10 for details
Sunday, 3 July
9.30 Participants Parade
This is one of the great events of the Festival and all song festivals. All 35,000 participants, dressed in their finery, will march from Dome Square, past the Freedom Monument, along Brivibas Street all the way to the Daile Theatre (Brivibas 75). This is the final event as participants make their way to the closing ceremonies and concert at Mezaparks Open Air Theater this evening.
16.00 "Flow of Life"
Grand Dance concert
Venue: Skonto Stadium, E. Melngaila 1a