It's the people who make the party

RIGA - The entire city of Riga, together with most of the entire country of Latvia, are gearing up for a spectacular three-day birthday celebration. The Baltic states have never seen anything like it. The party for Riga's 800th anniversary is about to begin.

Eight hundred years is a long time, and the Riga800 agency has been preparing for this weekend since 1992, when it was created by the Latvian Culture Foundation. Soon after the poets, artists and other cultural thinkers in the group began planning the anniversary, artist Gunars Lusis designed the now familiar Riga800 icon with what could be the mappings of a heartbeat or the spires of the Old Town.

At first the organizers could not decide on a location for the festivities. Some thought Mezaparks was the best location. Others wanted to move everything outside Riga to more spacious lands in the countryside. But in the end it was agreed that Old Riga would be the best venue. It is, after all, the heart of the city.

The essence of the festivities is not one of the many scheduled events - nor all of them together. You could sit at home and watch the celebration unfold on TV, one possible way for some people to demonstrate their city spirit. But that's not what all this is about.

The real celebration, at the center of all the planning and years of organizing, the inspiration and drive for those working on the project, is that the people of Latvia will be an integral part of the celebration, all of them together.

Diana Civile, one Riga800 official, said, "The essence of it all is written plainly on the posters and in the commercials: 'Let's celebrate together!' It means that everybody can go into this huge event and be a part of all of the singing and dancing or just enjoy the many professional concerts and theater programs. For example, there's even an event for people to compete with each other for prizes, called 'Riga Competes.' Anyone can participate,"she smiled.

Some of the international games in the competition include Sumo wrestling (in wide wrestler costumes), an American-style rodeo, pizza throwing contests (watch out for that sauce!), and lifting potatoes with Chinese chopsticks. Some healthy imaginations have obviously been at work here.

The party will be three full days of celebrations from morning into the evening, complete with fireworks, music - and food. There will be a table 800 (naturally) meters long where the agency will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner from ancient times, the middle ages, the classical period through modern times.

Even this will be an interactive event. People are invited to do the cooking themselves with the ancient or modern techniques their meal requires. And knowledgeable cooks will be on hand for those who literally don't want to slave over the hot coals.

"We want to present eating as part of our culture, through the ages. Traditional foods will be available, but even if someone wants to bring food from home and not buy anything, that's great, too! The idea of the table is to unite people, even if they don't have the money to try out the special foods on offer. Everyone will have a place to sit at the table, because that is free,"said Civile.

When asked what events are the most important and not to be missed, she shrugged and said, "Everyone is different, and that's what's so wonderful about this party. There is really something for everyone. Short and funny theater sketches, all kinds of music and different foods are just a few of the options people will find located throughout Old Riga. People should just look at the list and choose what sounds most interesting to them. All of these things are special."

Something called the Samsung Man will be traipsing through the crowded streets bearing telephones for people to call, supposedly for free, relatives or police (in case of emergency). The Riga800 people are encouraging parents to tie a piece of paper with their telephone number around the necks of their children, in case they get lost.

And in the true spirit of old time carnivals, even astrologers and psychics are getting in on the action, with personal booths for fortune telling and card laying.

As with the spirit of the Riga 700 celebration a century ago, horn music will float out of the church towers to engulf the crowds with sweet melodies, followed later by mighty fireworks along the banks of the Daugava on the second evening of the festivities.

This celebration really does have everything, from history lessons about the area to spiritual music, from avant-garde theater to champagne parties beneath a sparkling sky.