FESTIVAL PROGRAM: HERE
July 5, Friday
7.30-18.00 MARKET WITH SONGS ABOUT THE SEA AND DELICACIES DAY 1 /Old Town Market Square/
Craftsmen and homemade goods producers from all over Latvia will delight visitors with a wide range of products. To celebrate the festival, there will be a special Sea Festival fish market at the Market Square, where visitors can purchase smoked fish and fish delicacies, and enjoy fish dishes and beer in nearby cafes.
13.00 YESTERDAY WE WERE AT THE HARBOUR’S EDGE /H. Dorbe Museum/
Creative workshop “Yesterday we were at the harbour’s edge…” (H. Dorbe). Participation of the Center for Families and Children with Special Needs “Cimdiņš”.
11.00 – 15.00 MEANING OF THE SEA /House of Crafts/
Tour of the House of Crafts, Sea Festival badge workshop.
19.00 – 21.00 O SOLE MIO /Concert Hall “Latvija”/
Under the southern sun, la dolce vita. A joyful concert to bring smiles and sunshine into your heart, with the fragrances of Italy and a touch of Spain. The string quartet “Akilone” from France has gained recognition on European and international stages for its colorful and refined playing, as well as its stylistic diversity. The quartet features Magdalena Geka (1st violin), Elise De–Bendelac (2nd violin), Avishai Chameides (viola), and Lucie Mercat (cello). Ticket price: 10 EUR
21.00 – 23.00 SUNSET MUSIC /Café “VIETA, KUR būt.” – Beach entrance 6/
As part of the concert series “Ventspils Sunset Music Evenings”, expect an evening of music intertwined with the sea waves and painted skies by the setting sun.
July 6, Saturday
8:00-18:00 MARKET WITH SONGS ABOUT THE SEA AND DELICACIES DAY 2 /Old Town Market Square/
Craftsman and home producers from all over Latvia will delight visitors with a diverse range of goods. In honor of the festivities, there will be a special Sea Festival fish market in the Market Square, where you can buy smoked fish and fish culinary products, and enjoy fish dishes and beer at food trucks. On July 6th, the Market Square will also feature a special wheel of fortune and sea song karaoke.
10:00 “SEA CUP 2024” IN BEACH VOLLEYBALL /Ventspils Beach Volleyball Stadium/
11:00 – 14:00 YESTERDAY WE WERE AT THE HARBOUR’S EDGE /H. Dorbe Museum/
Creative workshop “Yesterday we were by the harbour’s edge…” (H. Dorbe). Families with children are invited.
11:00 – 15:00 MEANING OF THE SEA /Craft House/
Tour of the Craft House, Sea Festival badge workshop. Madara Atiķe, ceramics exhibition.
Entrance fee according to the price list.
11:00-15:00 SEA WELCOMING /Livonian Order Castle/
Ship workshops in the Castle’s courtyard. The castle exhibition will be open all day.
14:00 OPENING OF MĀRA ČAČKA’S PERSONAL EXHIBITION “RECEPTION”.
Entrance fee according to the price list.
11:00-11:30 MOMENT OF REMEMBERANCE /Monument “for Sailors and Fishermen”/
With the participation of the Ventspils Culture Center mixed choir “Kaiva”, we will honor those who lost their lives at sea with a moment of silence and laying of flowers.
OSTAS STREET NEW PROMENADE
11:40 – 17:30 CENTRAL STAGE /by the Theatre House “Jūras vārti”/
The day’s program will be hosted by Lauris Subatnieks, an actor from Dailes Theatre.
11:40 – 12:30 OPENING CEREMONY- PARADE OF SHIPS AND NEPTUNE’S WELCOMING
We will welcome the powerful Sea King Neptune and his entourage, who will sail into the port accompanied by tugboat water sprays, a tradition unique to Ventspils. To everyone’s surprise, Neptune will be visited by an old acquaintance, an impressive figure who has traveled from overseas.
12:30 – 13:30 NORMUNDS RUTULIS WITH HIS BAND
Normunds Rutulis is a Latvian pop and schlager singer who has won numerous Latvian music awards. Among his popular songs are “Par to (raudāja māte)”, “Nekur nav tik labi kā mājās”, “Lecam pa vecam”, “Kūko kūko dzeguzīte”, and many others. On the Ventspils Sea Festival main stage, the musician will perform well-known and beloved melodies.
13:40 – 14:40 LAIMIS RĀCENĀJS AND NEAIZMIRSTULĪTES
Vocal-instrumental ensemble “Neaizmirstulītes” and legendary Latvian pop singer Laimis Rācenājs.
14:50 – 16:00 ASTRO’N’OUT
For over 20 years, “Astro’n’out” has evolved from a simple guitar rock band to modern pop music. Recently awarded numerous music awards, the musicians are ready to delight the Ventspils audience.
16:00 – 17:00 THE ROLLTONES
The lively band “The Rolltones” has been known for over 10 years, both as pioneers of the Americana music genre in Latvia and thanks to the active solo work of the band’s vocalist Atis Zviedris.
12:30 – 15:00 “AT THE HARBOUR MASTER’S” /by the Harbor Master’s building/
A specially arranged photo spot where visitors are invited to take pictures with Neptune and his entourage. You may also encounter a mysterious and impressive sea creature.
12:00 – 17:00 “READY TO SAIL” /by the boat “Rota”/
Throughout the day, the ship’s captain Ufo, aka Kaspars Upaciers, will form his ship’s crew with tasks and various games. The toughest and strongest will be ceremoniously admitted to the crew.
Activities offered by the “Attīstības fabrika” association for teenagers. We will test knowledge about the Baltic Sea and its life. Sea creature recognition game, a board game about the coastline, and a sea water exhibit.
In the square by the small harbour, there will be various fun activity options for children – inflatable attractions, carousels, games.
12:30 – 17:00 SMALL STAGE /near the enviromental object – propeller “Cilvēciskais spēks”/
12:30 JŪRAS AKMENTIŅI concert
Youngest and middle-age pop group students will perform a concert program dedicated to the sea.
13:30 DANCING AND GAMES WITH THE FOLKLORE GROUP “LAIPA”
14:00 REAL FISH SOUP
Ilze Briede, a participant on the show “Real Latvian Hostesses”, host of “Cake Wars”, and the hostess of Brantu Manor, not only bakes authentic Latvian rye bread and delicious cakes, but also prepares various dishes according to old recipes. She is renowned for her skill in cooking a hearty fish soup made from 17 different types of fish. To enhance the soup’s exceptional flavor, Ilze practices an ancient ritual – extinguishing a burning log in the soup. You can experience the taste of this unique dish at the Ventspils Sea Festival.
14:40 UFO in concert with like-minded artists
The origins of the group “UFO” date back to the late 80s when the ensemble “Kaija” was formed. This was a time when several DJs created their bands. The leader of “UFO” is Kaspars Upaciers, known to the wider public as the long-time host of the morning radio show BB Breakfast and a beloved comedian. The musicians will perform only well-known compositions because, as Ufo himself says: “Why write new ones when the old ones are still good?”
15:40 ORĶESTRPĒDS and accompanying suite
A mobile piano with professional musicians, percussion, and wind instruments.
19:00 – 23:00 EVENING PART OF THE SMALL STAGE
19:00 SABĪNE MUSTERMANE
Sabīne is studying jazz vocals at Ventspils Music High School and creates audiovisual content on the social network “TikTok”. The young musician has already released her song album, involving several well-known Latvian musicians, including Agnese Rakovska, Pēteris Lunde, and Matīss Repsis.
19:40 “KoBra”
A newly formed fresh duet “KoBra”, consisting of two singers – Krišjānis Brasliņš and Katrīna Kovaļuka from the Academy of Arts, united by their joy of creation and promising to “with thirst-quenching and hunger-quenching, super-juicy original music.”! The musicians were widely recognized in the show XFactor.
20:30 JUUK
“Juuk” is a folk rock band. They have released three official albums, the latest – “Muļķa stabule” won the music recording award “Zelta Mikrofons”. The band consists of Sniedze Prauliņa, Edgars Šubrovskis, Oskars Jansons, Rasa Pole, Ričards Dauksts, and Niks Moss Rodžerss. The traditional rock guitar lineup blends with the voices of three soloists, violin, flute, and banjo in the band’s sound.
21:30 Vinyl record DJ set from the legendary MIXMASTER AG
Mixmaster AG, also known as Andris Gailis, is well known as an MC, rapper, and member of the ensemble “Bezgalībieši”. He is a legendary Latvian DJ who has performed at various events with stars like Moby, Westbam, and many others.
EVENING EVENTS ELSEWHERE IN THE CITY
19.00 – 3.00 GUNTA SKRASTIŅŠ SONG AND CHANT FESTIVAL /Reņķa Garden/
This year, the festival will feature beloved Latvian pop music, schlager music, country music, as well as performances of actor songs and choruses by soloists, actors, and groups – Māris Sloka (from the group “Klaidonis”), “Bumerangs”, the duo “Strazdiņš and Račs”, Andris Bērziņš, “Roja”, Viktors Lapčenoks, Artis Robežnieks, Kaspars Antess, Žoržs Siksna, Kaspars Markševics, Ieva Sutugova, Ineta Rudzīte, Dainis Skutelis, “Tērvete”, Edgars Pujāts, “Mākoņstūmēji”, Andris Daņiļenko, Roberts Ošiņš, and other artists. Traditionally, the festival continues with a ball until 3:00 in the morning with Gunta Skrastiņš’s band “No Pusvārda” and popular solists in Latvia.
Tickets available HERE.
00.00 – 6.00 DANCES /Restaurant and Cocktail Bar “Silrak”/
Performances by Rassell & Sabīne Berezina. DJs KRESS & DJ ALE.MAR. Tickets available: HERE.
July 7, Sunday
8.00-15.00 MARKET WITH SONGS ABOUT THE SEA DELICACIES DAY 3 /Old Town Market Square/
Expanded trade – fish, homemade and artisan products, plants, etc.
10.00-17.00 SMALL SEA FESTIVAL MARKET /Seaside Open-Air Museum/
Small Sea Festival market, activities for children, family tasks. Admission fee according to price list.
SMALL SEA FESTIVAL
11.00-12.00 /Children’s Town/
Discotheque “Journey with Submarine” hosted by Ēriks Balodis.
15.00-16.00 /Children’s Park “Fantasy”/
Discotheque “Journey with Submarine” hosted by Ēriks Balodis.
16.00 – 19.00 COLLECTIVE EXHIBITION /Theatre “Jūras vārti”/
Meeting with exhibition participants and sketching session. Interested parties are invited to bring their own sketchbooks, pencils, markers, or other chosen instruments.
The exhibition features artists Laimdota Junkare, Mārīte Kluša, Sarmīte Caune, Jānis Kupčs, Inga Insberga, Arnis Martinelli, Ieva Rupenheite, Gunta Kalsere, Rita Blaževiča, Marfa, Ainars Pastors, Jelena Baranovska, Gunta Krastiņa, Līva Ozoliņa, Malda Porniece, Liene Milēviča, Boriss Moiseievs, as well as photographers Gundega Rebhūna, Ilva Buntika, and Uldis Balga.
