Other events in Baltic States

The Riga Festival will begin today, lasting for three days, until August 19, and offering more than 60 various events, reported LETA.

The festival's first day will kick off with the Riga Zoo's "Striped Days", animal feeding demonstrations, orienteering game and creative workshop. The movie theater "Splendid Palace" will feature screenings of "Riga Story" and the exhibition "Born in Riga - World Famous".

The Riga Central Market will also participate in the festival, offering performances from Andris Kivics and a guitar duet, Kaspars Zlidnis and "Gain Fast", as well as several other artists.

The "4CITIES4DEV" travelling exhibition will be on display at the Riga Congress Center. Several events will also be held in Bastejkalns Park, on the Town Hall Square, at the Small Guild, etc.

As reported, a wide program of events will take place during the Riga Festival this year downtown, Old Town, Pardaugava, Mezaparks and other areas of the city.

This year, the Riga Festival marks the 730th anniversary since Riga became a member of the Hanseatic League in 1282, emphasizing the importance of the cultural and historic phenomenon of the league for the development of the city. Representation tents of Hanseatic League cities - Rostock, Tallinn, Tartu, Kaunas, Vitebsk, Veliky Novgorod, Kingisepp, Valmiera, Koknese, Straupe and Limbazi - will be set up at the Town Hall Square on August 18 and 19, where visitors will be able to inspect what these cities' craftsmen offer.

During the festival, medieval fairs will be held in Riga's Old Town, as well as concerts and performances in concert halls and at city squares in Riga's Old Town, Vermane Park, and the Esplanade. Traditionally, "Riga Retro 2012" parade of antique automobiles will be organized through Riga, Art Nouveau events will take place on Alberta Street, a regatta in the city canal will be organized, as well as a gala event on the Daugava Embankment with an impressive fireworks display in conclusion.

August 18, the popular Russian rock band "Mumiy Troll" will perform at "Arena Riga", as well as "Run Run Run" from the United States and "Losers" from Great Britain.

The Riga Festival is organized by the Riga City Council in collaboration with the Freeport of Riga Authority and Riga Tourism Development Bureau, as well as with various private companies and non-governmental organizations.