Blondes take to the streets in Riga

RIGA - Hundreds of blondes from throughout Latvia donned pink and fluffed up their poodles over the weekend to take part in a parade aimed at improving morale in the crisis-stricken country.

This was the second annual parade organized by the Latvian Association of Blondes. Unlike last years march, which was originally intended to be a one-off event, this year the parade was extended to cover two days on May 28 and 29 and to include concerts and a Marilyn Monroe look-alike competition.

Attendence was also up this year, with about 800 blondes taking part in contrast to the 500 that attended last year's event.

Money raised by the event was donated to a charities for disabled children in an effort to brighten the national mood amidst what has become the worst economic recession in the European Union.

“Blondes in Latvia are a unique brand. Last year’s parade, this year’s festival and next year’s carnival have and will make a substantial contribution toward Latvia’s tourism sector. Go Blonde will soon be as important a project for Latvia as the carnivals in Brazil and Italy which are of great interest to thousands of tourists,”said Marika Ģederte, President of the Latvian Association of Blondes and organiser of the event.

For more information about the Latvian Association of Blondes, visit www.goblonde.lv.