News

The First Advent marks the beginning of the Christmas season. On November 30, residents and guests of Jelgava are warmly invited to gather in Duke Jacob’s Square to enjoy the festive spirit together and light the city’s main Christmas tree.

The event will begin at 5 p.m. with a performance by the Jūrmala Theatre – “How the Elves Enchanted Christmas”, a story about four elves using their magical powers to light the Christmas tree. With a heartfelt and instructive performance about kindness, joy, and love, everyone will be invited to take part in lighting Jelgava’s grand Christmas tree.

A cherished tradition of the celebration is also the Christmas Market, which will be open to visitors from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Local craftsmen and home producers will offer Christmas trees, candles, Advent wreaths, festive decorations, knitted goods, hot drinks, gingerbread, and various seasonal treats.

The municipal company “Pilsētsaimniecība” notes that this year’s Christmas tree will once again be impressive – standing 18 metres tall and built from more than 30 smaller trees. Assembly in Duke Jacob’s Square has begun with the installation of the central support and smaller trees, followed by the attachment of decorations. This year, the tree will shine in pearl, gold, and brown tones, adorned with stylised acanthus motifs and warm white LED light garlands, highlighted by four vertical spotlights.

Festive atmosphere in the square will also be enhanced by last year’s large-format installations – a 21-metre-wide and 4-metre-high silhouette of Jelgava Palace in warm white tones, as well as six decorative arches. Both the arches and the palace silhouette feature stylised acanthus motifs referencing the Baroque architecture of Jelgava Palace. Trees in Duke Jacob’s Park will be decorated with cascading warm lights, completing the scene and enhancing the glow of the arches and palace silhouette.

Holiday decorations will also appear across the city. Christmas trees decorated with sparkling LED lights, silver diamond-shaped ornaments, and mirror-effect decorations will shine along Driksas Street and in Uzvaras Park. Light garlands and festive projections will illuminate the pedestrian section of Driksas Street. Station Park will be decorated with LED light “puzuri” of various sizes, creating shimmering snowflake patterns. More “puzuri” will form a glowing alley in Raiņa Park, along Pasta Street, and on lampposts in the Old Town. The oak tree at the Pasta (Post) Street traffic roundabout will also become a festive object – it will be illuminated by LED light string spheres.

Pasta (Post) Island will feature a three-dimensional sailboat and light decorations in the shape of a sail, complemented by acanthus decor. Additional light installations with acanthus designs will be placed on Satiksmes Street and at the Garozas–Prohorova Street intersection. Baroque-inspired acanthus décor will also appear on lampposts along the bridge over the Lielupe, as well as on Driksas Street, Dobele Highway and Loka Magistrāle between Riga Street and Aviācijas Street. On Lielā Street, from Jāņa Čakstes Boulevard to Dambja Street, nearly five-metre-long gold light garlands will illuminate the lampposts.

Some festive decorations have already been installed, but the full Christmas atmosphere across the city will come to life with the arrival of the First Advent.