Baltica Folklore Festival Returns to Latvia Celebrating 'Language'
The International Folklore Festival 'Baltica' is set to return to Latvia for the 13th time, with a focus on the theme of 'Language'. This annual event, organized by the Latvian National Centre for Culture, will take place in Riga, Sigulda, and Daugavpils, bringing together folklore groups and ethnographic ensembles from across the Baltic States.
The Baltica Festival, which began in 1987, rotates between Baltic countries and has been held in Latvia 12 times before. This year's event will be free for visitors, except for certain events at the Turaida Museum Reserve. It will feature a wide range of activities, including concerts, dances, workshops, and more.
The festival is organized in cooperation with several municipalities and cultural organizations, and is supported by the Ministry of Culture, the State Culture Capital Foundation, and Sigulda Municipality. It aims to bring together folklore groups, ethnographic ensembles, chapels, folk dance groups, craftspeople, storytellers, and other cultural heritage preservers from the Baltic States. This year, guests will include folklore groups and traditional music groups from Peru and Ukraine, as well as representatives of the Ukrainian diaspora.
The 2023 Baltica Festival, with its main theme of 'Language' proposed by Edeite Laime of the Latgalian cultural movement 'Volūda', promises to be a vibrant celebration of cultural heritage and international exchange. The event is a testament to the power of language and tradition to bring people together.
