Riga Carnival, Latvia
Helsinki Samba Carnaval, Finland
Užgavėnės Carnival, Lithuania
Content of this article
What is Riga Carnival?
Riga Carnival is a celebration that takes place every year in the capital of Latvia. This celebration is held thanks to the Latvijas Mākslas akadēmija (LMA) or Latvian Academy of Arts. This celebration is held almost exclusively for students of the institution, their friends or other students from universities in the country.
The carnivals have annual themes; the decoration and dress follow the patterns established by the theme. In the past they have had themes such as Utopia and Dystopia, the origins or even themes with Italian or samba elements. Also, they sometimes offer workshops and contests for the most creative or best-crafted costume.
The carnival has been taking place since 1929 and each year has a large turnout, usually attended by some 1,500 people in the halls and halls available for the celebration. The celebration is intended to offer space for recreation to young artists. Showever, the intuition authorities have also participated in the festivities.
The Riga carnival is an initiative to promote young and little-known artists
When is the Riga Carnival
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Usually, the Riga Carnival is heldin early to mid-February.
History of Riga Carnivals
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Riga Carnival was first held in 1929 at the Latvian Art Academy. Since then, the carnival has been offering spaces for the different artists little-known institution, of the city and the country to make themselves known. Likewise, the carnival costumes have been one of the elements that have prevailed over time, the masks and the themes that are implemented every year.
The first carnivals were held almost secretly, with the participation of a few select students. However, over time they were opened to more people, who today can enter the festivities if they cancel an entrance ticket or if they are part of other university institutions in the country. At the end of the 20th century, the carnival added elements that contemplated costume contests or even workshops and costume making.
Since its inception, the carnival has been giving spaces to different artists so that they can make their work known. These artists belong to the different branches, whether photography, performing arts, painting or music.
Where is the Riga Carnival
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The carnival is held in the Capital of Latvia, Riga. Likewise, the festivities and events are held at the Latvijas Mākslas Akadēmija.
At the Riga carnivals people wear ostentatious costumes to be part of the party themes
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How Riga Carnival is celebrated
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Riga carnivals are held in an atmosphere of modern celebration, with lots of music and live concerts. From the get-go, you can tell it’s a celebration like no other. Upon entering, you can see the halls and aisles decorated with incredible costumes, colors and themed objects that make these carnivals an exclusive party.
The celebration begins during the night and ends at dawn. In addition, within the facilities you can watch or participate in a wide variety of themed activities, live concerts, reproduction of audiovisual material orentertainment shows. Likewise, the spaces offered are suitable for meeting new people within the entertainment industry and the art.
If you want to know more about tourism in this country I recommend this guide:.
Tips for going to Riga Carnivals
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If you want to be part of the carnivals in Riga, we recommend planning your trip in advance, making anitinerary of activities you want to do in the city and reserving your accommodation a few weeks in advance.
Also, we tell you that, to get tickets for the event, you will need contacts within the institution, either students or organizers, since it is an exclusive party for people who study or work in the entertainment area, music and art.
Once you find the right person, the entrance fee ranges from 10 to 30 euros per person. Don’t forget to dress according to the established theme, enjoy the activities and make lots of friends.
Events at Riga Carnival
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Riga Carnival gives little-known artists spaces to make themselves known
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People start entering the venue from 9:00 pm and at 11:00 pm begins the different events and shows that last until dawn. From midnight, themusic groups begin to perform. In addition, the different activities, entertainment shows and audiovisual reproductions take place in the time intervals.
Distribution of activities
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The various artists perform in the halls of the Riga Carnival grounds
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Inside the grounds the groups perform in the different halls. In addition, different activities, shows and workshops are held in the different areas of the institute.
The Aldaris company offers a large number of drinks
What to eat at Riga Carnival
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If you visit the carnival or the city of Riga in general, you can’t miss the opportunity to try the Rīgas Melnais balzams, an alcoholic drink made from herbs and spices that has been produced since 1752. You can also try the Aldaris beer, which has been produced since 1865 and features a wide variety of ciders, beers and other beverages.
The city of Riga also offers you a number of options for eating out. Some of these are Riits, Folkklubs Ala Pagrabs and Domini Canes.
Rīgas Melnais balzams is a beverage tradition made of herbs
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Travel Insurance
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What to see and do inside the Riga Carnival
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Once the carnival starts, you can watch the various artists perform in the halls of the venue, these can range from live music, jazz performances, art shows, reproductions of audiovisual material and much more. In addition, they also hold entertainment events such as shows by Drag Queens. In addition, the precinct provides spaces for you to meet several people who are part of the institution, work in the artistic movement or even students from other universities in the city and the country.
The carnival is a constant party from night to dawn, so you have plenty of time to meet people and enjoy the artistic and musical performances. Carnival is a constant party from night to dawn, so you have plenty of time to meet people and enjoy the artistic and musical performances. .
What to see and do outside the Riga Carnivals
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Some of the attractions that the city of Riga offers you are:
Alberta iela
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It is a city street that has become a tourist attraction due to the buildings that are located in its 255 meters long. The architectural works on this street feature modernist elements and well-crafted details, attracting thousands of visitors to contemplate the residences.
Vērmane Garden
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It is a public garden that has an extension of 5 hectares. Inside the enclosure you can find different works, statues and monuments commemorating the different personalities of the country’s history.
KGB Museum
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It is a history museum where you can take a tour of the prison area. The building was part of the headquarters of the Soviet secret police.
Safety at Riga Carnival
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The city of Riga is quite safe. However, like any other big city, beware of possible scams usually performed on tourists and pickpockets that may be found in the more touristy areas.
Keep your items in a safe place to avoid being a victim of theft or removing your belongings. Also, we recommend the following products to keep your belongings safe:
Weather at Riga Carnival
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The weather during the festivities is quite cold, with temperatures ranging from 0 to -6 degrees Celsius. Be sure to pack thick coats if you decide to visit the city.
Riga carnivals have themes every year and people dress as creatively as possible
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How to get to Riga Carnivals
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How to get there by plane
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The city of Riga has its own airport, theRiga International Airport which receives a large number of flights from the European region, Russia and Turkey. Once here, you can use the different means of transport to reach the venue where the carnivals take place.
How to get there by boat
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Riga has a port that receives different boats from Sweden and Germany.
How to get there by train
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The city of Riga receives trains from cities in Russia and Belarus..
How to get there by bus
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From the airport, you can take a bus to the central station. From there, walk to the venue where the carnivals are held.
The city of Riga also receives buses from Lithuania, Estonia, Russia and Belarus.
How to get there by car
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From the airport you can take the Krišjāņa Valdemāra road to the carnival grounds. The journey takes 15 minutes.
Also, Latvia allows entry of vehicles from Estonia, Lithuania, Russia and Belarus. From other countries it is more convenient to use the train or airport.
Where to stay at Riga Carnival
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Rixwell Elefant Hote
4 star hotel 3.9 km from the city center. Rooms feature cable TV, minibar and private bathroom with hairdryer. The hotel has a bar, spa, airport transfers, parking and free Wi-Fi.
Wellton Riga Hotel & SPA
4-star hotel 650 meters from the city center. Rooms have air-conditioning, TV, coffee set, ironing set and private bathroom. The hotel has a spa, bar, swimming pool, parking and free wifi.
Wellton Riverside SPA Hotel
4-star hotel 550 meters from the city center. Rooms feature TV, desk, minibar and private bathroom. The hotel has a swimming pool, bar, spa, parking and free wifi.
We recommend you use Booking.com to book hotels at a good price, check more information here:.
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