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On August 16, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM, everyone is invited to the Old Town Street Festival. Throughout the day, the historic quarter of Old Town Street will come alive with performances by amateur groups, a crafts market, and hands-on workshops offering a chance to try out traditional ancestral trades.

On the festival’s main stage, located at the end of Old Town Street, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM, visitors will enjoy performances by artists from Jelgava city and region – including the duet of Uldis Timma and Erita Karlsone, the Belarusian Society “Ļanok” from Jelgava, the kokle ensemble “Teiksma”, the children and youth dance group “Ieviņa”, the Roma folk dance group “Rademila” from Eleja Parish, the jazz combo of Jelgava Music Secondary School, and students from the Salgale School of Music and Art.

As is tradition, a crafts and home-made goods market will take place along the street, where vendors from different parts of Latvia will offer tasty treats and useful handcrafted items.

The “Knowledge and Craft Yard” will be open from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM, inviting visitors to learn and try out various traditional skills. Activities will include:

A splint basket weaving workshop (registration required, call +371 29116210),

A ceramics workshop using horsehair raku technique,

A herbal tea workshop, and a traditional “ķistu” (carved wooden vessel) workshop.

The organization “Liepa Daba” will host a creative activity called “Colorful Dream Circle”, while the “Ballīte Zoo” rural animal farm will offer an opportunity to meet a variety of animals.

Participation in all these activities is free of charge and does not require prior registration.

A barrel organist will add a special atmosphere to the event, and the visual design will be enhanced by an exhibition of works by Jelgava Art School students.

Inside the Old Town House, on the ground floor from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM, a screen printing workshop will be available (participants should bring a plain T-shirt or fabric bag), and nearby, a pop-up café “At Mrs. Silva’s” will serve themed treats.

In the courtyard of Old Town House, there will be activities for children and youth. Jelgava’s Public Centre will offer large-format games, and “Liepa Daba” will help kids create a “Dream House”. There will also be a face-painting corner.

At 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM, younger visitors and their parents are invited to the attic of Old Town House to watch a Kamishibai paper theater performance titled “Secret Celebration”, presented by the Jelgava City Library.

Participation in the activities at Old Town House and courtyard is free.

For those who want to explore further, a full tour of the Old Town House multimedia exhibition “The House Tells a Story” requires an admission ticket:

Adults – €4,

Students, pupils, seniors – €1.50,

Families – €6.

For an additional fee, visitors can also experience the “Knowledge and Craft Yard” weaving workshop, view the traditional family room, and explore nine weaving looms:

Adults – €5, students, pupils, seniors – €2, families – €10.

At 1:00 PM, by prior registration and for an additional fee, two hands-on workshops will be offered: An eco-printing (plant dyeing) workshop, and a traditional rye bread baking workshop. The fee for each workshop is €10. To register, please email austras.raksti@gmail.com or call +371 29116210.

Traffic Information:

Residents should note that traffic restrictions will be in place on Old Town Street on August 16 during the festival. Details will be published on jelgava.lv and visit.jelgava.lv closer to the event.

Photo/Video Notice:

Photography and video filming will take place during the event for public communication and publicity purposes — to document the work process, resource use, ensure continuity of information for future generations, and contribute to cultural development and heritage preservation.

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